Funeral to be held today for pedestrian struck, killed by alleged drunken driver

Kimberly Diane Teague Dotson poses with one of her four dogs that she called her "children."
Kimberly Diane Teague Dotson poses with one of her four dogs that she called her "children."

Friends and family who knew Kimberly Diane Teague Dotson said her smile filled a room and her caring actions impacted people and animals. But an alleged drunken driver ran his truck into her and cut her life short.

"She had a way of being involved with people," said the Rev. Bill Mason, senior pastor at Morris Hill Baptist Church where Dotson was a member.

Mason and the Rev. Jim Whittaker will officiate Dotson's funeral at 4 p.m. today at Morris Hill Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until service time today.

Georgia State Patrol charged 20-year-old Tyler Alexander Lemley, of Signal Mountain with DUI, after he struck and killed Dotson as she went for an after dinner walk with her sister on Sam Lewis Road about 9:35 p.m. on Thursday.

Police also charged Lemley with driving on the right side of road, homicide by vehicle, lacking proof of insurance, driving without headlights on and two counts of having drugs not in original containers, according to the Catoosa County Inmate Information website.

According to the Georgia State Patrol Lemley drove north on Sam Lewis Road and Rachel Teague, Dotson's younger sister and Dotson walked south on the west edge of the roadway. Teague heard a vehicle coming and stepped out of the roadway onto the shoulder to secure a dog that walked with them. Dotson walked behind Teague. Teague stated that as the vehicle came down the roadway it did not have its headlights on and as the vehicle passed Teague heard a loud noise and called for her sister.

Lemley, the driver, told police he did not see them walking and could not avoid hitting Dotson.

Dotson, daughter of Mike and Joyce Teague, was married to Ryan Dotson for five years. She owned four dogs that she called her children, according to her obituary.

Dotson had been a member of Morris Hill Baptist Church for about three years, said Mason. She was an armature photographer who photographed the church's Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir and worked where ever needed in the church's preschool. She cleaned rooms as well as watched children.

Dotson loved animals, Mason said. She owned two or three horses and four or five dogs and she was always bringing home strays. She formerly worked at the Chattanooga Veterinary Center.

She worked as a secretary at a local law firm and wanted to eventually go back to school, said her pastor.

"She was just a very kind and caring person," Mason said.

Anita Latham, who called Dotson, "my sweet friend," was among several friends requesting prayer for Dotson's family on Facebook.

Brittany Larissa Daniels commented about Dotson on the Wilson Funeral Home online memory page for Dotson.

"She was always telling me turn the other cheek," said Daniels. "Be the duck and let it roll off your back. She was so calm and happy and just a good person."

Carol King wrote, "I loved you like my own daughter and I'm going to miss you."

Said Stephanie Templeton White on the same site, "I can never remember a day when she wasn't smiling."

Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.

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