The Shadow
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Mary Madge Alexander Dufour, 76, of Hillandale Farm, Hot Springs, went to her heavenly home on Monday, June 2, 2014, surrounded by her family at the Bath Community Hospital.
She was born August 7, 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of the late Holmes Moss Alexander and Mary Barksdale Alexander.
On January 31, 1934 she married the love of her life, Rene R. Dufour, who preceded her in death on August 27, 2012. They enjoyed 53 beautiful years together.
Mrs. Dufour was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and artist. She attended Boarding School at Foxcroft in Middleburg, and attended Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a founding member and greeter of Faith Covenant Family Church; a member of the Bath Arts Association and served on the Board of Social Services.
She is survived by four children, Laura Shaver and husband Pastor Steve Shaver of Hot Springs, Dawn Smithwick and husband Dr. William Smithwick of Louisville, Ky., Louie Dufour and wife Teresa of Hot Springs and Mary Claire Gram and husband Pastor Bill Gram of Hot Springs; twelve grandchildren, Alex Shaver and wife Maddie of Cameron, N.C., Tyler Shaver of Boca Raton, Fla., Trey Shaver of Hot Springs, Brannan Smithwick of Roanoke, Holly Smithwick Webster and husband Matthew of Louisville, Ky., Bryce Smithwick of Louisville, Chad Dufour of Virginia Beach, Abby, Lindsay, Isabella and Nicholas Dufour all of Hot Springs and Benjamin Briggs of Pensacola, Fla.; three great grandchildren, Tyler and Hunter Shaver of Cameron and Smith James Webster of Louisville; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Dufour of Virginia Beach; and a treasured family member Jean Sullenberger of Staunton.
We would like give special thanks to Dr. James Redington and Dr. Levi Rizk and the entire staff of Bath Community Hospital for their excellent and loving care; her care givers, Mattie Chestnut, Donna Hepler, Cheyanne Robertson, Elizabeth Ailstock, Maggie Black, Grace Rivenbark, Harley Crummett and Billie Hull.
She was preceded in death by a son, John Rene Dufour.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 7, at McLaughlin & Young Funeral Home with Pastor Chip Hill officiating, assisted by her three sons-in-law, Pastor Steve Shaver, Dr. William Smithwick and Pastor Bill Gram.
Interment will be in Union Chapel Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Alex Shaver, Tyler Shaver, Trey Shaver, Bryce Smithwick, Chad Dufour, Benjamin Briggs and friends, Jeff Strasser, David Fisher and Mark Hepler.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The John Dufour Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 14, Hot Springs, Va., 24445, Faith Covenant Family Church, 54 Wilkinson Road, Hot Springs, Va., 24445; or The Bath Community Hospital “Bring It Home” Fund, P.O. Box Z, Hot Springs, Va., 24445.
Online condolences may be made to www.mclaughlinandyoung.com.
