Dolly Myrea (Simmons) Mauzy

Dolly Myrea Mauzy, 96, of Auburn, passed away Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Auburn, Indiana.

She was born February 1, 1930, in Riverton, West Virginia to Olin G. and Catherine K. (Harper) Simmons.

Dolly led an exciting and fulfilling life. She was raised in a log cabin on her father’s dairy farm in Beverly, West Virginia surrounded by a large loving family. She graduated from nursing school at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, and worked as a registered nurse in Elkins, Miami, Florida, John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and Los Angeles, California.

Dolly married Dr. Merritt C. Mauzy on June 30, 1953, in Elkins, West Virginia. He died on January 31, 1993.

She was joined in a spiritual marriage to Bruce R. Slack on October 21, 2001. He passed away on January 22, 2017.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church while living in South Bend and recently attended the Auburn Church of Christ.

While raising her family in South Bend, she was a member of the PEO sisterhood. Attaining the designation of “Golden Girl” status for her dedication and commitment for over 50 years of service. She also was an active member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. With her husband Merritt, she participated in several medical Missionary trips to Haiti. Her other travels included trips to China, India, Russia, Egypt, Ecuador, Taiwan, Korea and several European countries.

She had a flare for decorating and was a creative hostess for any occasion. She was a country girl at heart but was comfortable traveling the world. From blue jeans to cocktail dresses Dolly always shined brightly. To her grandchildren and great grandchildren, she was an exciting storyteller, a talented teacher of making crafts and decorations, a wonderful cook who specialized in Buckwheat pancakes and gave the world’s best back scratches. She truly was a Renaissance women.

Surviving are four children and their spouses, Debra K. and David Melitz of Irvine, California, Charles C. and Bridget Mauzy of Elkins, West Virginia, Anna M. and Anthony “Tony” Mackin of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mary B. and Philip Dooley of Auburn; two step sons, Richard and Linda Slack of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and Brian and Anne Slack of Atlanta, Georgia; 11 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; two siblings, Jeff (Faye) Simmons of Elkins, West Virginia, and Nancy Taylor of Elkins, West Virginia; and a step son-in-law, Henry Martin of Blufton, South Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; five brothers, Ralph Simmons, Glenn Simmons, Robert Simmons, Jacob Simmons and Thomas Simmons; six sisters, Sylvia Hinkle, Eva Lewis, Fannie Chenoweth, Catherine Dalton, Infant Ruth Simmons, and Myrtle Jenkins; and a step-daughter, Ginny Martin.

There will be a celebration of Dolly’s life later this summer on the Mountain Top of the family farm in Elkins.

Memorials may be directed to a hospice organization of the donor's choice.

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