Dolly Welker

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Dolly Mae Welker, 91, of Perryville passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

She was born Sept. 26, 1929, in Lithium, Missouri, to Benjamin Harrison and Mary Adaline Vessells Feltz. She and Joseph Weldon "Bud" Welker were married Oct. 15, 1949, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Sereno, Missouri. He preceded her in death May 1, 2000.

She was a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. She worked at St. Vincent High School as a librarian and later in the cafeteria.

Dolly Mae was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and an honorary high school alumna. She was a member of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and Daughters of Isabella, where she served as regent and past regent. She was involved in the SV Calendar Program and Elementary School Capital Campaign fundraiser. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and the Otahki Girl Scouts, where she was awarded the highest honor -- Thanks Badge -- for her many years of volunteer leader service. She served as an election judge for Perry County. Her legacy will live on through the Saint Vincent High School Football Scholarship.

Survivors include four sons, Brad (Sharon) Welker of Cape Girardeau; Craig (Sherry) Welker of Wentzville, Missouri; John Welker of Moberly, Missouri; and Mark (Pam) Welker of St. Louis; four daughters, Mary Beth (Chris) Splisgardt of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Christy (Rick) Presnell, Judy (Karlie) Ernst and Fran (Paul) Sauer, all of Perryville; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph Weldon 'Bud' Welker; five sisters, Bernice Hilderbrand, Mildred Wade, Stella Pingel, Bernadine "Bun" Hagan and Delores "Dodie" Dunker; and three brothers, Edgar "Ed," Ivan "Dutch," and Evelyn "Shorty" Feltz.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 28 at Ford and Young Funeral Home. Rosary will be at 9:20 a.m. Monday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Joe Geders, C.M., and Deacon Direk Hunt officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Vincent de Paul Educational Foundation or the Association of Miraculous Medal.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandyoungfuneralhome.com.