Sheila Raye Dotson Berger

Sheila Raye Dotson Berger, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on May 9, 2021, at the age of 73 in her home in Lemitar, New Mexico.

Sheila was born to Harold Chester Dotson and Lillian Raye Dotson on February 10, 1948, in the Panama Canal Zone. Her father was a B-52 pilot in the Air Force, and the family was stationed in New York; France; Tucson, Arizona; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Riverside, California.

It was in a math class at the University of California, Riverside, that Sheila met her soul mate, Edwin Louis Berger III. They married on June 15, 1972.

Sheila began her teaching career soon thereafter, teaching third grade in Riverside, California. Ed and Sheila, along with their children Brenda and Fred, moved to Magdalena, New Mexico, in 1975, where she taught fourth grade. Soon thereafter, Sheila and family moved to Socorro, New Mexico.

Sheila then took a short break from teaching when their son, Aaron, was born. Sheila returned to teaching with the Socorro School District in 1984, working as a reading specialist and then a special education teacher.

In 1989, Sheila, Ed, and Aaron moved to Lemitar, New Mexico.

Sheila retired from teaching in 2002. In their retirement, Sheila and Ed enjoyed traveling, especially to their vacation home in Montserrat, where Sheila threw huge parties for their friends and was known as the consummate hostess. Sheila made the world’s best fudge, was a voracious reader, and was a very caring person who deeply loved her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Harold Chester Dotson, Jr. She is survived by her husband Ed; children Aaron Berger (Liz), Fred Berger (Kathy), and Brenda Pohl (Johannes); and grandchildren Katrina, Nick, Anika, Liliana, Shania, Kyle, Logan, and Devin. At Sheila’s request, there will be no services held.

El Defensor Chieftain