Herrin- Gail G. "Butch" Dotson- 77, of Herrin, passed away at 12:40 PM, Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

Butch was born on October 11, 1946 in Herrin to Walter and Virginia (Hawkins) Dotson of Zeigler.  He married Deena Perrine on December 20, 1968 in Zeigler, Illinois.  She preceded him in death on January 29, 2006.

He was a longtime volunteer (1968-1993) at the Herrin Fire Department and taught Firemanship training at the University of Illinois and Vienna Correctional Center for several years.  He retired from sales and maintenance of coal mining and oil rig equipment in 2011.  Earlier he worked for Zeigler Coal in various capacities.

He graduated from Zeigler Royalton High School in 1964.  He was a faithful member of Lone Oak Baptist Church in Energy.  Butch was an avid Herrin Tigers and Zeigler-Royalton Football fan.  He worked the Herrin High School concessions for many years and will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his daughters- Tracey (Jon) Vaughn and Jamie Ford of Herrin; former Son in Law Tony Ford of Herrin, daughter in kind Brenda Miller, grandchildren- Joe Vaughn, Nathan (Amber) Vaughn and Alex Vaughn all of Herrin; great grandchildren- Alexandria, Liam and Luca Vaughn; one sibling, 22 additional grandchildren from throughout the world and special cousins- Bruce Dotson and Susie Fogle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and cousin- Ronnie Summers.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 1:00pm, Monday, August 5, 2024 at Egyptian Memorial Gardens in Herrin. Friends and family are asked to gather directly at Egyptian Memorial Gardens beginning at 12:30 pm. Rev. David Dyer will officiate and a honorary firefighter memorial services will be performed by the Herrin Fire Department.  Funeral arrangements were entrusted to McCluskie-Miller Funeral Home in Herrin.

Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and will be accepted at the cemetery or mailed to McCluskie-Miller Funeral Home/ 501 S. 12th/ Herrin, IL   62948.  For more information please visit mccluskiemillerfh.com.