Dolores N. Benton

Dolores was taken home to be with Jesus, her Lord and reunited with her loving husband, Jerry, on February 27, 2024. She was 90 years old and known by many names…Dolores, Pug, Mom, Momma, Grandma, Nana. She wasn’t fond of Nell!

Dolores was born at home in Waco, Texas on July 17, 1933 to Opal and Dewey Adkison who were unbelievably excited after being told they could not have children! She was raised in the Baptist church with a strong faith in God and a love for Jesus Christ. Dolores graduated from Austin High School and then attended a Business school for women. A few years later, she married and began an adventure with her husband who was in the Navy and stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dolores learned to hula and about many of the Hawaiian traditions. She lived there for two years and during that time gave birth to a daughter, Susan.

Dolores and her family returned to Houston, settling in the Timbergrove neighborhood. Two years later she gave birth to a son, Rick. She loved to cook and Saturdays were extra special breakfasts. As her children became school age, she pursued her love of art and created several oil paintings. She enjoyed painting and excelled in landscapes. She also enjoyed spending time with her parents at Galveston Bay and eating her favorite – fried shrimp! Dolores sang in the adult choir in a small Methodist church in the Heights and later Susan joined her. She had a beautiful voice.

Single at the age of 39, Dolores met Jerry Benton and fell in love, marrying in 1974. They were soon blessed with a daughter, Christi, in 1975. Three years later, Dolores was diagnosed with breast cancer. As in all life difficulties and struggles, she met this hurdle straight on choosing to have radical surgery to ensure she would be healed and able to raise her young two-year-old daughter. During the next years, she faced each step of her cancer journey and recovery with profound courage. Dolores loved spending time with the Benton family and gathering around to sing at their farm. She joined Jerry in his insurance business and often would accompany him on client interviews. Dolores was a people person and loved children. One of her greatest joys was to see her children married and starting their own families. Her other love was dogs, especially Milo, a pug.

After Dolores was sadly widowed in 1999, she lived with Christi and her husband, Matt and enjoyed her newest grandson, Ryan. Then she moved to independent living for many years until she experienced a disabling stroke, which necessitated a need for more care. At this time, she moved into nursing care but through all of the hardships, she always had a smile on her face, trusted in Jesus, and had a positive outlook.

Dolores is survived by her daughter, Susan (Tracy) Little; son, Rick (Cindy) Moffatt; daughter, Christi (Matt) Fryar. Grandchildren: Justin Moffatt, Arianna (Eric) Wingate, Jessica (Ben) Perry, Stephanie (Patrick) Dailey, Teresa Queal, Ryan (Mary) Fryar, Nathan Fryar and Sarah Fryar. Great grandchildren (birth order): Cameron Queal, Jordan Queal, Austin Queal, Wills Perry, Dean Dailey, Cade Dailey, Luke Perry, Ellie Wingate, Ezekiel Fryar. And sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, and numerous others.

The family would like to thank Regent Care of the Woodlands and Vantage Hospice for their loving and compassionate care and the immediate nursing and staff caregivers' who cared for Dolores, especially Amber, Z, Janice, Faith and Raynetta.

The family requests donations be made to Living Waters (https://water.cc) or

Chapelwood Foundation (https://chapelwoodfoundation.snappages.site)

or a charity of their choosing.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 9:30 AM with the Worship Service at 10:00 AM with a Graveside Service immediately following at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home at 6900 Lawndale, Houston TX 77023.

Reception following.