Mary Nelle (Butler) Dillon died at 6:28 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Ala., after a lengthy illness. She was 81 years of age.The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at Wood Avenue Church of Christ, Florence. Visitation will be noon-2 p.m. before the service. Cory Collins and Kenneth Davis will officiate the service. Paul Colvin will direct congregational singing. The graveside service officiant at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens will be Wayne Wood.Active pallbearers will be David Underwood Jr., Bill Bagents, Hubert Powell, Hobert May, Tim Morrow and Ricky Collum.Honorary pallbearers include Lawrence Alexander, Claude Junior Wood, Thomas Tidwell, Pete Kelley, Bobby Milstead, Les Troxell, Jack Epperson and Delbert Knight.Mrs. Dillon was preceded in death by her husband of almost 59 years, Fred Louis Dillon, who was editor of the TimesDaily in the 1960s, and who was a minister to the elderly and infirm in the Shoals. She also was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Plaught Butler, of Corinth, Miss., and by brothers, Horace Butler, Harold Butler, Brody Butler, James Travis Butler and Warren Butler.She is survived by her sons, Kevin Patrick Dillon (Barbara), of Florence, and Kelly O'Neil Dillon (Paula), of Killen. Her grandchildren are Krista Michelle Dillon Race, Richard Patrick Dillon (Jessica) and Alyssa Lynne Dillon. She also is survived by great-grandchildren, Chance and Dominick Race. Another great-grandchild is due to be born in March 2012 to Richard and Jessica Dillon.Mary Nelle (affectionately called "Mammaw" by her grandchildren) is survived by her brother, Billy Burchell Butler (Chris), and by her sisters, Betty Clyde Watson, Marjorie Jane Hinton, Nancy Faye Jumper and Ruth Elaine Culp (Max). Mrs. Dillon has numerous nieces and nephews.Mary Nelle was employed as a bookkeeper for the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Corinth, Miss., and as a bookkeeper for Spain Wholesale Grocery in Corinth, Miss. She was known as an immaculate housekeeper. She made beautiful crocheted afghans and baby blankets and enjoyed decorating birthday cakes and cooking. She was especially fond of hummingbirds, and used hummingbird figurines and pictures thematically in her home decor. She was sympathetic and benevolent toward children. "Unselfish," "humble" and "responsible" were three words that adequately describe her character.The family wishes to thank the administration and staff of the Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home for Mrs. Dillon's excellent recent care. Mary Nelle's family is especially grateful for loving care provided by the Mars Hill, Kilburn and Wood Avenue congregations. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mars Hill Church of Christ, the Christian Student Fellowship (Churches of Christ) at UNA, North Alabama Christian Children Homes, Kilburn Church of Christ, Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home or Wood Avenue Church of Christ.