Mr. Maurice Erwin Dodson's Obituary
Rev. Maurice E. "Skip" Dodson went to be with the Lord on February 28, 2010. He lived to age 81 including his last 12 years as a heart transplant recipient. He is survived by Shirley A. McKinney, his devoted wife of 35 years; his sons Glenn P. Dodson and wife Beverly, Billy M. Dodson and wife Allison, and Philip M. Dodson and wife Kristi; and his five Grandchildren: Shelly Nicole Dodson, Shannon B. Dodson, William S. Dodson, Bethany N. Dodson and Nicholas T. Dodson. He was preceded by his first wife Cleo LaNelle Thompson, his brother Billy G. Dodson and his parents Guy and Gussie Faye Dodson.
Maurice was born Feb. 4, 1929 in Houston, Texas where spent his childhood, graduating from Austin High School in 1948. After high school, he served in the United States Army and later worked for several years in the aircraft industry. It was during this time that he had a conversion experience which led him to commit his life to full time Christian ministry. Maurice went on to attend Baylor University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. He received his Bachelor of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1962 and in 1980 he received the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology. In 1963 he and his wife Cleo were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve as missionaries to Mexico. After attending language school in San Jose, Costa Rica, Maurice and Cleo moved to Mexico where they served for 10 years in Leon, Guanajuato and Mexico City. During their time in Mexico, he served as field evangelist to Central Mexico where his work included preaching numerous revivals each year, establishing dozens of new missions and supporting local churches. Reverend Dodson organized and opened a Bible Institute in Leon, Guanajuato and helped establish, in cooperation with the Baptist Seminary in Torreon, Coahuila, an Extension Bible Institute in Mexico City. He also served as Professor of New Testament at the Bible Institute of Mexico City.
After returning to the United States, he served as Pastor of First Baptist Church - Deer Park, Texas from 1973 to 1979 and Pastor of Lindale Baptist Church - Houston, Texas from 1979 to 1997. During his 43 years of full time ministry, Dr. Dodson preached over 65 revivals in both Spanish and English leading many to salvation. An avid fisherman, Skip loved to spend time on his boat fishing in Galveston Bay. To those who knew him, he was truly a "fisher of men," devoting significant time and energy throughout his life to reaching others for Christ through personal evangelism and counseling.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Missions Department at Houston's First Baptist Church are encouraged.
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