Dovie Ellen Sears

One of the greatest gifts of our lives and someone who has had a significant impact in her community — has taken her last breath on Earth and her first breath in Heaven. Our beloved, Dovie Ellen Sears, affectionately known as Grandma Dovie, went to be with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior along with her sweet husband, Shelby Warren Sears on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Dovie was able to finally be at peace as she passed from this Earth after a brief stay in Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. She was surrounded by her 3 children: Dennis Warren Sears, Janice Lynn Sears Johnson and Terry Glenn Sears; as well as many in her family.

We held this incredible woman in our arms, encouraged her, and loved her as she slowly took her last breaths. Dovie and Shelby would always say, “If Jesus was in the parking lot and loadin’ up a bus”, we’d all get on it. Our sweet Dovie Ellen Sears did just that.

Dovie had many titles: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was also an incredibly talented cosmetologist, cook and quilt-maker. She created her own business, “Dovie’s Beauty Shop,” where she worked tirelessly as hairdresser for 34 years. She was a matriarch to her family and someone who lived a very happy, always busy, fun and very full 97.5 years.

She seemed to be most pleased with her cooking. If you’ve ever been to Cedar Grove, you have most likely had her fried potatoes, okra, oysters, cornbread, potato soup, peanut butter fudge or sweet tea.

Dovie met many in her family when she arrived in Heaven, including: her beloved husband, Shelby Warren Sears; her parents Judge Washington Columbus Rager and Mayda Hallie Rager; her brothers, Hollis Rager and Collis Rager and her sister, Cynthia Rager McNutt as well as many other family and church friends. She is survived by her brothers Glendal Rager, Larry Rager, and her sister, Gracie Rager Sweeney.

Dovie was married to Shelby for 67 wonderful years. They married in Clifty, Kentucky at Roy Sears home on August 6, 1946.

Dovie and Shelby also loved many cats in their lifetime. Chigger, Roper, Rusty, Anna, Jim and Randy, to name a few, lived their best lives because of them.

Dovie led her life with grace and had a servant’s heart. She was a well-spoken kind woman who always offered her time, energy and efforts. To know her is to love her; and she knew many. She built her life as an obedient servant of Jesus Christ and taught so many to do the same. Along with Shelby, she was a loyal member of Bullitt Lick Baptist Church until the early 1970’s and Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, Kentucky for the duration of their lives. She proudly served Cedar Grove Baptist as a Clerk for countless years.

She was well-known for her great sense of humor. She and Shelby had many jokes and stories they loved to tell, especially when they would talk about their childhood “down home” located “in the country”. There was always laughter on Cedar Grove Road in the home that Shelby built. Typically, Dovie would be cooking and Shelby would have the television on too loud. They both were always present; always helping and always doing something for someone else.

Dovie and Shelby lived absolutely selfless lives. They cared so much about their family and friends; they loved us all so much.

We give thanks to Jesus Christ for allowing this woman to be ours. Grandma Dovie Ellen Rager Sears was the best of the best, along with Papa Shelby Warren Sears. Dovie would absolutely want her life to be remembered in tandem with Shelby. She spoke of him almost every single day after his passing and missed him so much.

Dovie’s grandchildren include: Eric Perryman (Kristen), Jennifer Johnson Stricklin (Todd), Jason Johnson, Andrea Sears Garr (Michael), Brandon Sears (Amanda) and Andrew Sears (Autumn). Her great-grandchildren include: Kyle Perryman (Amber), Hannah Hughes, Isabella Stricklin, Amelia Stricklin, Dylan Perryman, Leah Sears, Levi Sears, Dustin Garr (Courtney) and Brooklynne Moore (Cameron). Her great-great grandchildren include: Kaiden Perryman, Braxson Perryman, Kynleigh Perryman, Jaylee Perryman, Charlotte Garr, Dylan Holmes and Cayde Moore. Her caregivers over the last decade include her 3 children as well as: Georgia Powers, Ronnie Hopkins, Dana Stephens, Alyssa Stephens, Sarah Yates, Savannah Nalley, Leta Jones, Stephanie Mills, Terri Collard, Anna LeBlanc and Stacy Shartzer. Her Pallbearers include: Jason Johnson, Brandon Sears, Andrew Sears, Todd Stricklin, Michael Garr and Eric Perryman.

Dovie’s Visitation will be Sunday, May 19 from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Monday, May 20 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Her Funeral will be Monday, May 20 at 12:00 pm at Maraman-Billings Funeral Home (605 Preston Highway, Shepherdsville, Kentucky). Her interment that will follow her funeral will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery (4608 Cedar Grove Road, Shepherdsville, Kentucky).