Dolores Ponce Brown

Dolores Ponce Brown, born on Sept 18, 1929 in Jacksonville Florida, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 92 on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. More affectionately known as Dee and Grandee, she was the 8th child of 13 children born to Thomas Ponce and Effie Rowe Ponce. A bundle of independent strength, Dee often stated that she was the most stubborn and liked things her way. One of her famous quotes was, “I may not be right; but I am not wrong. “

Committed to her family and her marriage, Dee and her husband, Ethan, worked hard to provide a good life for their three sons, Russell, Dennis, and Timothy. Upon Ethan’s death, Dee worked to provide for her family and eventually married Cecil Manning, who embraced her sons and their children as his own; together, they worked to create a comfortable retirement for themselves until Cecil’s passing.

After over 47 years of marriage and the passing of 2 husbands, she met her final love, Loren Lee Brown in 2011 and they were married on Jan 2, 2014. After a lifetime of ups and downs, Dee was truly happy in her final years with Loren, and Loren shared that they never even had one argument.

Dee was a hard worker from her California days at Vons, winning national awards as the best checker 3 years in a row to working for the federal government at NAS Cecil Field where she earned her retirement. Dee’s biggest passion in her life was her family and her grandchildren. Family was first in Dee’s world, and she never missed an opportunity to spend time with family members, watch her children, her grandchildren and even other people’s children. She embraced old and new family members as if they had always been a part of her family. Loren’s daughter Nancy, her daughters Heather and Tabitha, and their children shared how although they didn’t know all of Dee’s family, they felt embraced as an integral and loved member of Dee’s clan.

Dee loved her weekly lunches with her sisters, family and friends, never missing a moment to enjoy each and every one of them. Some of her favorite memorable traditions included summer vacations at the lake with the Norton families, the Manning Family Reunion in October, the Brown family reunion in Missouri every fall and the Ponce Family Reunion at Thanksgiving. Dee could always be seen carrying a crockpot of something good to each event and making those who attended feel happy and loved.

Extremely active in both her early and later years, she bowled on a league, loved to travel, volunteered at the hospital and with church and enjoyed gardening. Dee went on a countless number of cruises and trips and never turned down an opportunity to explore with family and friends. But her travels also included attending every one of her grandchildren’s high school and college graduations in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia. Dee’s hobbies included decorating, photography, puzzles, video games on her ipad and crochet. She crocheted countless numbers of baby blankets and baby attire and did at record speeds.

Dee was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She was happiest when she was surrounded by her large family and was even able to spend time with her two great grandchildren. Dee viewed her in-laws as her own family, as evidenced in her strong relationships with Ethan’s siblings, Raymond Norton, Eula Lowe, and Bea Dessert and their families, as well as all of the Manning family and Brown family. She is preceded by her husband, Ethan Norton, her husband, Cecil Manning, and her son, Russell Norton. She is survived by her husband, Loren Brown and his family, and her sons, Dennis Norton and family, and Timothy Norton and family. Dee is predeceased by the following brothers and sisters: Lillian Ponce, Thomas Charles Ponce, Dorothy Stoppelbein, Aubrey Ponce, Jean Paradiso, Juanita Motto, Tommy Mann, Gwendolyn Reynolds. She is survived by Charlene Lourcey, Yvonne Lempke, and Evangelene Smith.

God has taken one of his angels home, but we are forever grateful to have had the time we did with her.

A celebration of life for Dolores will be held Friday, October 22, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens, Riverside Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to West Meadows Baptist Church, 11711 Normandy Blvd Jacksonville, Florida 32221, (904) 786-2711.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the BROWN family.