- Date Of Birth: November 16, 2017
- Date Of Death: May 27, 2011
- State: Indiana
Ella “Marie” Dodd, 84, Terre Haute, passed away on May 27, 2011 from Alzheimer’s Disease at Davis Garden Nursing Home.
Perhaps few knew her last name and even fewer knew her real first name of Ella, but hundreds of people knew her as “Marie” from her days as hostess at the Club Idaho and from Meg’s Beachcomber and Duggan’s Speakeasy where she worked as a waitress and bartender.
Marie Dodd was born Ella Marie Clayton in 1927 in Madisonville, KY – the 3rd youngest of 15 children. She was preceded in death by her parents and 13 siblings. She was also preceded in death by her ex-husband, musician John Dodd and two stepsons John Patrick (“JP”) and Gregory Dodd. Her sole surviving sibling is her sister Thelma Mullins, Madisonville Ky. She is survived by sons Clayton, James, Mark and Joseph Dodd, daughters Linda Dodd and Gloria Martins. Granddaughters include Apryl Brown, Elyshia Bogarde, Stephanie Camp; grandsons are William Martins and Charles Walters. Great-grandchildren include Austin, Aaron and Alexis Brown; Abigail Bogarde and Haley Martins. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and their offspring.
She moved to Terre Haute in the 1940s with her sister Carolyn Dooley. They worked together as waitresses at Brownie’s Restaurant. She married local trumpet player John Dodd in 1953 and had six children. After their divorce in 1968, she re-entered the workforce and remained there until she was in her 70s, working at various night clubs where she was considered a local legend. Countless people approached her over the years to tell her that she served them their first legal drink when they turned 21.
