Dorothy "Dottie" Mae Nilsen Balius

Dottie Balius, 81, a native of Gautier/Pascagoula area, passed away surrounded by family at her side on December 14, 2023.

Look out Lord! Dottie Balius, "The Wrestling Grandma," standing 4 foot 9, climbed to the top rope and charged over the Pearly Gates. With the Blood of Jesus Move, she slammed her challengers, Sin and Satan, and claimed her belt in Heaven. 

Dottie loved wrestling and sports. In her younger years, she loved to bowl with her bowling league. She also loved to cheer and jeer AWA Pro wrestlers, yell "charge" at the organ blast for BayBears and Shuckers, chant "Who Dat" when the Saints scored, and shout for the Gautier Gators and Pascagoula Panthers.

She attended Bethel Baptist Church of Gautier to pray and slay every chance she got. At age 80, she made the ultimate play to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. From then on, she cheered for Christ and would hand a Gospel track to everyone she met.

Dottie retired from Ingalls in 2019 after 40 years binding books in Reprographic Services. Her coworkers still speak fondly of their feisty friend today.

She fiercely loved and was loved the same by numerous friends and family members. She loved her grandchildren, raising two as her own, Alice Marie Floore and Bradley Floore, taking them to sporting events, band practice, scout meetings, and seeing them into adulthood.

She was proceeded in death by her biological parents; her adopted parents, Johan Aerosporg Nilsen and Dorothy Mae Eagles-Nilsen; her adopted brother, Johan Robert Nilsen of Montana; four half-brothers; her former husband, Donald Balius; and her partner, Jerry Borries.

She is survived by her children, John (Diane) Balius, Bradley (Connie) Leggett, June Balius, and Amy (Shane Scara) Balius; her sister-in-law, Agnes (Johan Robert) Nilsen; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; numerous friends and family members.

Dottie’s family extends a heart-felt “thank you” to all her doctors and their nursing staff.

A Celebration of Life service will be led by Bro. Walt Barbee at noon on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Bethel Baptist Church, 1704 Ladnier Road, Gautier, MS. Friends are invited to visit starting at 10 a.m.