Barbara Mae Dotson, 78, of Mechanicsville, MD, passed away peacefully on February 03, 2025 at St. Mary's Hospital, after a brief illness. Born on November 07, 1946 in Leonardtown, MD, she was the daughter of the late Warren James Guy, Sr. and Helen Francis Wheeler Guy. Barbara is survived by her husband of 55 years, Wayne Joseph Dotson of Mechanicsville, MD. Barbara's precious daughters are Karen Frech (Karl) and Debbie Anderson (Jon), both of Mechanicsville, MD and her dear grandchildren, Kaitlyn Anderson, William Frech, Ashton Frech, James Frech, and Joshua Anderson. Barbara's siblings are Ella Tennyson (Charles "Wise") of Scotland, MD, Ernest Francis Guy (Charlotte) of Leonardtown, MD, Robert Michael Guy (Betty) of Bushwood, MD and many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings Joyce Ann Hammett, Kenneth Andrew Guy, Mary Paula Thompson, and Warren James Guy, Jr.

Barbara was a lifelong resident of St. Mary's County, MD and grew up on the family farm on Big Chestnut Road in Leonardtown, MD with her parents, four brothers, and three sisters. She grew up learning to cook from her mother and grew a love for baking, gardening, and canning fresh vegetables. She always talked about baking a "flat top", which was a delicious homemade yellow cake with a chocolate ganache frosting. Her favorite dish to prepare was St. Mary's County stuffed ham and passed the tradition down to her daughters and grandchildren.

Barbara was a graduate from Father Andrew White School in 1961 and later graduated from Leonardtown High School in 1965. Her first job was for the St. Mary's County Board of Education as an Office Clerk. Barbara then worked for the St. Mary's County Commissioners' Office and St. Mary's County Government in the Office of Economic Development. Lastly, she retired in 1999 with 30 years of service from St. Mary's County Government where she worked for the St. Mary's County Sherriff's Department as a Budget Analyst. She also worked as the Grants Coordinator where she received Federal and State grants for Sherriff's Office and our local community. Barbara also took minutes and transcribed meetings for the Liquor Board in her spare time. Later, she used her talents in grant writing to work for the town of Leonardtown for an additional 10 years retiring in 2012. Several of favorite projects were obtaining and managing millions in grants for the Leonardtown Wharf Project, the Leonardtown Winery, and developing the Walking Tour of Historic Leonardtown, the County Seat of St. Mary's County for over three centuries showcasing local businesses, churches, residences, and historic buildings. Barbara enjoyed local history and working with the St. Mary's County Historical Society.

Barbara had a strong Catholic faith and was a lifelong member of St. Aloysius Church. She loved her grandchildren and especially enjoyed Grandparent's Day at Father Andrew School where all of her grandchildren attended as she did growing up as a young girl. Barbara loved spending time with her daughters and helping with her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching dozens of hummingbirds come and visit every year. She also loved to read and collect cookbooks. Barbara enjoyed spending time cooking and canning with her Mennonite friends Mikayla, Andrea, and especially Nancy and had a special bond with them over the years.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM in St. Aloysius Gonzaga Roman Catholic Church with Rev. David Beaubien officiating. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery Bushwood, MD.

Serving as pallbearers will be Karl Frech, Jon Anderson, William Frech, James Frech, Joshua Anderson, Kevin Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Kaitlyn Anderson, Ashton Frech, and all her many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Father Andrew White School in Leonardtown, MD, the Mechanicsville Rescue Squad, Mechanicsville, MD, and A Community That Cares (ACTS), Bushwood, MD.