Howard "Howdy" Lewis Dortch, Jr.

Howard "Howdy" Lewis Dortch Jr., age 89, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025, at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA, surrounded by his loving family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Marguerite Dortch; his wife Marianne "Mitzi" Dortch; his sister, Cheryl Potter; his brother, Douglas Dortch; and his great-granddaughter, Georgia Ray Krause.

Howdy is survived by his wife Constance "Connie" Aiken Dortch; his children, Robin (Bobby) Branstetter, Howie (Stacy) Dortch, Tamara (Matthew) Nafie, Gregory Dortch, and Joseph Dortch; grandchildren Lacey (Brandon) Otis, Lewis (Kristina) Dortch, Marianne (Raymond) Krause, Ory (Korinn) Dortch, JoBeth Branstetter, Loftin (Annabelle) Dortch, Jennison (Breck) Long, Bobbie Jean (Stephen) Zuccaro, Gloria (Casey) Conard, Mathilda Nafie, Dylan Dortch; and 13 great-grandchildren; brother Alan (Karin) Dortch.

Born June 5, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia, Howdy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended West End Seventh-day Adventist Church School, Collegedale Academy, Southern Missionary College, Columbia Union College, and Later earned a master's degree in educational administration from Tennessee Tech University.

He married Marianne "Mitzi" Dortch on July 29, 1956, and together they raised four children-Robin, Howie, Tamara, and Greg.

Following college, Howdy worked in the family business in Birmingham, Alabama, Dortch Baking Company. In 1961 he moved his family to Laurel, Maryland and founded Dortch Construction Company. In 1967 the family moved to Deer Lodge, Tennessee. He purchased the Readymix Concrete Company in the neighboring town of Sunbright. From 1970 to 1977, he taught fifth and sixth grade at Deer Lodge Elementary School. In 1980, he returned to Maryland to assist his father who had taken over Dortch Construction Company. Mitzi soon followed him there. Later Howdy and Mitzi, along with Mitzi's brother Jake and Sally Robbins founded HMS Painting and Drywall Systems. Howdy retired from this business in 2025.

In 2003, Howdy married Constance "Connie" Akien Dortch of Newnan, Georgia. They shared a loving and devoted marriage until his passing.

Howdy Dortch was a great, kind, loving, generous man. He was a true friend, dedicated educator, a kind employer, and loving father and grandfather. He was a blessing to everyone who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Oh how we long for Jesus's coming! "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20

The family will receive friends on Sunday February 15, 2026 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm Est at Meister Memorial SDA Church, 1145 Meister Hills Rd
Deer Lodge, TN 37726-4308.  Celebration of Life will follow at 3:30 pm Est.  Followed by fellowship and food in the Meister Memorial Fellowship Hall.