Dorothy Laveta (Gibson) Brown

May 14, 1911 - December 12, 2008

Dorothy Laveta Gibson Brown, was the second daughter of Lena Robertson and Everett Fairfield Gibson, of Rocky Ford, Colorado. She was born in their home 14 May 1911. The other children in her family, Velma Gibson Shanks, Merle Gibson Hamilton, "Buster" Gibson, and Jack Gibson, all predeceased her. She always had wonderful memories of her childhood spent on her family farm, and being down the road from her Grand Parents, Robert Wiley Robertson and Annie Umstattd Robertson. She spent equal time at each home, and as the Robertson Dairy began to thrive, she went to live with her Grandparents to help with the cooking. Her Grandmother taught her to cook, and cooking is what she loved to do, she could always be found in the kitchen. She made the best pies, and cookies, and even won a blue ribbon at the fair for her Angel Food Cake. She was particularly known for her almond toffee candy. Every Christmas everyone would dream of the day "Grandma's Candy" would arrive. She loved having family and friends over for dinner, even in her last years in Phoenix, AZ. She also sewed and made many quilts over the years, learning quilting with her Mother and Grandmother, using scraps from aprons and dresses. She earned a "Freedom" Honorable Mention Ribbon for her last Stained Glass Wedding Ring quilt made in 1999 for her grandson Eric Avery. Her Grandmother had also been a seamstress and sewed for some prominent ladies in Rocky Ford. Dorothy belonged to the Methodist Church and went to the Lincoln School, and the old high school in Rocky Ford, where she met Lyman Avery Brown. Dorothy and Avery met in wood shop and decided two could live as cheaply as one and married 5 August 1930. They went to Greeley where Avery went to College. After graduation they spent time in Silverton, Colorado while he was teaching. In 1939 she went to Bonnie Beauty School, so that she would be prepared "just in case", and worked in that field for awhile. She always cut hair and gave perms after that. They settled in Pueblo, Colorado after WWII and later Houston, TX, San Diego, CA, and Denver, Colorado. Her husband died in 1967, and she spent the rest of her life single. She lived in Denver until 1994, when she moved to Phoenix to be nearer to Susan and her family. Her descendants that mourn her loss are their son Melvin Avery Brown and his wife Beverlyann Galbraith Brown, their daughter Susan Brown Holsclaw and her husband William Marlow Holsclaw. Melvin's family is Warren Mark & Keri Livengood Brown, with children Sarah Nicole and Mathew Avery. Their Daughter Debra Marie Brown and daughters Jessica and Brittany Dunn. Debra's companion Jon Arabito and his daughter Annalise. Susan and Bill's children are Kristin Ann Holsclaw & Christopher Julcher, children Abigail Sage Julcher, & Thomas Gibson Julcher. Eric Avery and Nicole Bridge Holsclaw, and children Vivian Manns, Christoph James and Wyatt Marlow Holsclaw. Valerie Beth Holsclaw and Jon David, and her Heather Elizabeth Monks and Jon's daughter Jordan Sharon David. Nephews, Lawrence Hamilton and his children, Richard Hamilton and his children. Niece Jacquie Gibson and her daughters. Dorothy was loved by many other family members and friends that will miss her terribly. Her burial will be handled by Ford-Ustick Funeral Home in Rocky Ford, Colorado. She will be buried in the family plot in the Rocky Ford, Valley View Cemetery. Her Memorial Service will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday 17 December 2008 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Olga Hard conducting the service. Donations in her memory, would be appreciated to the Hospice of the Valley,9720 W. Peoria Av. Ste. 128 in Phoenix, AZ 85345. Or to access their website go to www.HOV.org.