Dorina Deleon Ayala, 81, of Millington, passed away March 15, 2018.

Funeral mass service will be held at St. William Catholic Church in Millington, Tennessee on March 23, 2018 at 10:00 with the Rev. Michael Werkhoven officiating. Internment of ashes will be held at a private ceremony on a date to be determined.

Mrs. Ayala was born in Donna, Texas to Emilio Deleon and Liboria Escobar on July 21, 1936. After spending years traveling with her husband and children to various overseas and state-side naval ports, she returned to school at their last port-of-call at NAS Memphis.  She earned a high school GED and certification in general accountancy and worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses in Memphis and Millington Tennessee.

She later became a homemaker and enjoyed crafting; including sewing and making quilts for her family.  In addition, she spent several years serving her church as religion teacher then as Director of Religious Education at St. William Catholic Church.  She also spent some years as a volunteer for Shelby Youth Sports as cheerleader sponsor, function organizer, and event official.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Juan Ayala; her sons, Rosendo Robles and Juan Ayala Jr.; and her daughters and their spouses, Cindy (Robles) and Bobby Long, Bonita (Ayala) and Craig Esrael and Dena (Ayala) and Bruce Carpenter; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Noemi Ruth Gonzalez of Rio Hondo, Texas.   Mrs. Ayala is preceded in heaven by her beloved son, Raul E. Robles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38101-9908

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Methodist North Hospital and Palliative Hospice Care for their support in her final days.