Rebecca Ardery Dorval
Rebecca Ardery Dorval, born March 6, 1926, in Cynthiana, Ky passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in Franklin, TN at the age of 97. She was the daughter of the late Charlie Rorer and Irene Duke Smith. She was married to Eugene Dorval (deceased), the love of her life for over 30 years.
Becky (also known as “Ardery”) had an extremely successful career in the hotel industry, when women weren’t known to do so. She started at the Phoenix Hotel in Lexington, Ky as Bar Manager, was promoted to Catering Manager, then Sales Manager and finally was the first woman to be named Assistant Manager of the hotel. Her promotion of conventions and events at the hotel awarded her numerous decorations including Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Bert Combs, Admiral by Ky Dept of Conservation, two Keys to the Treasury by Drexell Davis and France Jones Mills. When the Phoenix Hotel was closing in 1981, Becky took the position of General Manager of The Sheraton South hotel in Nashville, TN. She received additional honors there as Honorary Citizen of Tennessee and “Colonel – Aide de Campe, Governors Staff” By Governor Winfield Dunn. When retiring, Becky got into the antique retail business, opening Ardery’s Antiques in Nashville and Franklin, TN. Her next move was back to Paris, Ky opening Ardery’s Antiques in the J. J. Newberrys building on Main Street.
Becky (Ardery) is survived by her children Richard (Buck) Berryman (wife Penny deceased) of Roma, TX; James W. Berryman (wife Lynda deceased) of Columbia, TN; Betty Berryman Lewis (husband Steve) of Thompsons Station, TN; and Janie Berryman Goodwin (husband Randall) of Winchester, Ky. Additional survivors are her grandchildren Ken Adair (Jess) of Burlington, Ky; Mike Adair (Jessica) of Lexington, Ky; Sam Berryman, Dallas, TX; Lisa Lowery of Dallas, TX; David Eugene Berryman (Jessie) of Spring Hill, TN.; Becky Garland Barber (Nathan) of Franklin, TN., Janey Garland Lewis (Stephen) of Sterling, VA; Otey Smithson (Tracy) of Franklin, TN., Gabe Smithson of Lawrenceburg, TN., and Amy Lewis Crump (Brian) of Paris, Ky.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Bobby Duke Rorer of Cynthiana & Lawrenceburg, KY. She has many beloved great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 1:30 pm at the Paris Cemetery with Pastor Jerri Williams, officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow Albemarle Farm, 444 Millersburg Rd. in Paris from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Contributions are appreciated to the American Parkinson Disease Association at apdaparkinson.org online in honor of Gene Dorval, her husband, who passed way too early from this disease.
Quoting her ‘favorite guy’ besides Gene, ‘SHE DID IT HER WAY.”
The funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Lusk-McFarland Funeral Home, 1120 Main St., Paris, KY. The online guestbook is at www.Lusk-McFarland.com
