Orlean "Dottee"  Dodson Smith Owen, age 94, of Columbus, MS left her earthly home with her daughter, Tricia Cox, son-in-law, Tim Cox, and beloved dog Penny to enter her eternal home with Jesus on October 10, 2025.

A visitation will be Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Lowndes Funeral Home.  A graveside service will be Friday, October, 17, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at Friendship Cemetery with Pastor Bobby Sanderson officiating.  Lowndes Funeral Home entrusted with all arrangements.

Ms. Dottee was born on December 19, 1930 in Caledonia, MS to the late Orlean Dodson and the late Johnnie Smith.  She attended the old SD Lee High School, Mississippi University for Women, and Mississippi State University, receiving a degree in secretarial sciences.  She married the late Charles Thomas and had one child, Tricia.  Ms. Dottee worked as a secretary much of her life.  Early in her career, she worked at the Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama and later as a pastor's secretary at First Baptist Church in Columbus for Dr. Joe McKeever and also at First Presbyterian Church on Bluecutt.  She married the late Ben Owen in 1977.

Ms. Dottee was a talented musician, playing both the piano and organ at church and in nursing homes.  She was involved in the Columbus Music Study Club for many years.  She loved her church, First Baptist Church, where she had attended since she was a child and was also married there.  Ms. Dottee was active in her Sunday School Class and was the "Sunshine" chairperson, sending cards when members were ill or absent.

Ms. Dottee loved to travel by car, as well as by bus, in retirement, traveling to Georgia and Tennessee with Margaret Lewis and Susan Martin.  She also went on numerous charter bus trips and vacations, traveling as far as Alaska and Canada.

Ms. Dottee is survived by her daughter - Tricia (Tim) Cox; and 2 cousins – David Dodson and Russell Dodson.

Pallbearers will be Frank Brown, Bill Miley, Jimmy Autrey,  Dr. Eddie Bozeman, Bunk Harpole, and Tommy Johnson, Jr.

The family would like to thank all her caregivers for their tender care and loving compassion – Jean Armistead, the late Elizabeth Payne, Logan Buchanan, Laura Gentile, Sissy McCoy, Maddy Stobaugh, Laura Miller, Brittany Edwards, Shaye Bennett, and Moneika Swift.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, 50 Airline Road, Columbus, MS 39702 or to a charity of your choice.