Rose Jacquelyn “Jackie” Brown, 91, of Florence died Saturday, May 23, 2015, at Florence Nursing and Rehab Center.
Visitation will be Friday, June 12, 2015, at Elkins Funeral Home, Florence, from 2 to 3 PM. Funeral services will follow at 3 PM in the Chapel with Pastor Gary Teachey and Larry Marshall speaking.
Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her father, Green Jones; step father, J. G. Fortney; mother, Rose Fortney; 1st husband, Don McDowell; 2nd husband, Frank Dawson; 3rd husband, Herbert Brown.
She is survived by her daughter, Frances Rose Marshall (Larry); son, Franklin J. “Buddy” Dawson (Pam); four grandchildren, Amy Marshall Teachey (Gary), Emily Marshall Linenberger (Keith), Joseph Dawson, and Joshua Dawson; five great-grandchildren, Courtney Teachey Varner (Mitch), Cayla Teachey, Marshall Linenberger, Grant Linenberger, and Brock Dawson.
Jackie was born and raised in Harlan County, KY. After high school, she moved to Florence with her mother and step-father. She married Don McDowell of Florence who was killed in a flight training mission six months after their marriage. After Don’s death she enrolled at the University of Alabama and while there she was courted long-distance by Don’s best friend and fellow flight trainee, Frank Dawson of Effingham, IL. They were married in 1945 and had 2 children, Frances Rose and Buddy. She helped put Frank through the University of Florida and later through Graduate School at the University of
Virginia. Frank was killed in 1977 in an airline crash that originated from Muscle Shoal Airport. Her third husband was retired businessman and veteran Herb Brown of Boca Raton, FL. Herb died in 2010 and Jackie returned to Florence for the rest of her life.
During her married lives, Jackie worked off and on as an office manager and real estate agent. She was active in various fund-raising activities (Follies and plays) and entertained with song and dance at the retired veteran’s club “At Ease” in Melbourne, FL. She enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, listening to all types of music, and dancing.
Jackie was a woman of high honor and integrity. She always put her family first and was willing to go the second mile. She was a mother to be greatly loved, appreciated, and honored. In her years with Alzheimers/Dementia she was mostly loving and pleasant and recognized her children right up to the end, for which we are thankful to the Lord. The loving memories of her will always be with us. “Thank you, Mom, for being the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother you were to us. We love you so very much and will miss you always.
Special thanks to her sitters who enriched her life: Jessica Kelly, Brittney Tubbs, Amanda Allen, and Regina Davis; the great staff at Florence Nursing and Rehab; Green Oaks Inn staff; Dr. Doreen Morris; and Gentiva Hospice.
If desired, gifts may be given to Loaves and Fishes Ministry of Christ Chapel in Florence.
