Dorothy Nevils

Dorothy Riley Nevils age 82 of Merrillville,In passed away September 22,2025. She was born on September 5, 1943, in Mounds, Illinois, to Douglas L. Riley and Lillie Mae Riley (Townsend), Dorothy lived a life rooted in faith, family, education, and service.
She was raised in Mounds, where she was a member of New Missionary Baptist Church and graduated from Douglas High School. In 1966, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and later, in 1977, received a Master of Science in Education from Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana.
Dorothy moved to Gary, Indiana in 1966, where she began her long and impactful career in education. She taught English, Speech, and Drama at Roosevelt High School for over three decades, retiring in 1999. Her passion for teaching continued beyond retirement as she returned to the classroom as an instructor at Ivy Tech College in East Chicago, IN. Dorothy also made her voice heard through the written word, contributing columns to the Post-Tribune and Gary 411, where she earned the affectionate nickname "The Grammar Police."
Dorothy was a faithful member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Gary and remained active through its mergers with Bethlehem Lutheran and ultimately Bethel Lutheran Church. She attended and served faithfully until circumstances would no longer allow her to do so in person. She continued to look forward to joining worship services online. Dorothy was truly the Lord's servant. She was always involved in ministry and outreach on a congregational level and beyond the church walls in the community. Living her faith in other capacities, she also served as the Indiana-Kentucky Synodical Women's Organization (SWO) President of the Women of the ELCA from 2009 to 2013.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents (Douglas Riley, Eunice Riley, Lillie Lee, and Alfred Lee), her brothers (Carl, Vic, Wes, and Fred Riley), her sister (Maude Riley), ex-husband (Curtis Nevils Sr.), granddaughters (Brittney Riley and Lillian Riley), niece (Monique Vinson), and nephew (Orron Lee), and her beloved pet, Lucky.

Cherishing her memory are her children: Jeffrey Riley, Kendra Riley, Sean Nevils, Curtis Nevils, Jr. (Mariquita), and Jason Nevils (Anita); ex-daughter-in-law: Samantha Riley; grandchildren: Nicole Riley, Alexis Riley, Allison Kemp, Taylor Nevils, Mia Riley, Jazmine Nevils, Jade Nevils, Gia Nevils, Natalie Nevils, and Breneya Nevils.

She is also survived by her brothers: Jimmy Riley, Ernest Lee, and Samuel (Renee') Lee; nieces and nephews: James Riley, Cynthia (Mark) Hakkila, Pam Vinson, Utilis (Lyrae) Vinson, Christopher Riley, Natalie (Tommy) Sawyer, Edmund Baldwin, Stacey Lee-Luster, Kevin Lee, Donna Lee, Tenisha Lee, Antwan Lee, Kiala Lee, and Sienna Lee; cousin, Ethel Jean Flynn, and a host of other loving family, dear friends, former students, and the many children she helped guide and nurture throughout her life. Memorial service Saturday October 18,2025 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church 411 Montgomery St. Gary,In. Services Entrusted To Powell-Coleman Funeral Home.

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