Ann Dickard Brown's Obituary
Ann LaVonne Dickard Brown joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and beloved husband Jack, on May 29, 2024. Ann was born on May 1, 1931, in Dallas, Texas, to Ouida Mildred Gordon and Clyde Luke Dickard. A bright and beautiful teenager, Ann graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas) in 1948. She had plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin, but those plans changed when her father became ill, so she stayed at home and attended Southern Methodist University.
It was at SMU where she met the love of her life, Jack L. Brown. Jack was as handsome as Ann was beautiful. In 1953, the star basketball athlete married the Rotunda Beauty and member of the Homecoming Court. This young couple settled in northeast Dallas, building a home in Lake Highlands and raising four children.
Ann spent more than two decades volunteering with the Wallace Elementary School, Lake Highlands Junior High School, and Lake Highlands High School PTAs. She made costumes, attended recitals, sporting events, and field trips just to name a few. Raising her children was her top priority, recognized by so many, especially the neighborhood children on Yorkford Drive who also called her mom.
Church was always extremely important to Ann. She faithfully attended her beloved East Dallas Christian Church. She was married there, and all four children grew up in the church. She supported the children’s and youth departments as a teacher and sponsor. She and Jack chaperoned several youth ski trips. Ann was a member of Disciples Women, Knit-witters, Bible Studies, Azilian Club, and the Two by Two Sunday School Class. Jack and Ann’s circle of friends were those with which they worshipped.
When Ann was not volunteering or supporting her church, she was enjoying a game of bridge, a musical, a play, some travel, and most certainly, a good book. In retirement, Ann became the “go-to hotel gift shop expert and entrepreneur.” For twenty years, she and Jack owned and operated three hotel gift shops and an upscale sundry shop in the uptown Worthington Apartments.
Ann and Jack’s greatest joy was their four children Melinda Kurtz (Jim), Jack Brown, Jr. (Karen), Charles Brown (Melanie), and Meredith Hill (Brenden). As with Ann’s children, she also loved on and supported her grandchildren - Erin Ballmer, Justin Kurtz, Travis Brown, Melyssa Rossman, Nathan Brown, Corbin Brown, Jordan Brown, Lauren Hill, and Courtney Hill. She has been blessed with twelve great grandchildren and three more great grandchildren are on the way! Ann is also survived by nephew, Bobby Drown, nieces Marla Hill Christian (Johnny), Cynthia Hill Knowles (Drew), and cousin, Carolyn Smith Lewis (Jim).
A number of tributes have been sent to the family, but this one, from long-time friend and neighbor, Susie Stimson Roberts, says it best, “such a sweet mom, she was loved dearly by the Stimson family…and we are so thankful for her influence in our lives and look forward to reuniting in heaven when it’s our time!”
If it is your wish, the family suggests memorial donations, in Ann's name, to East Dallas Christian Church, 629 N. Peak Street Dallas, TX 75246, Phone: 214-824-8185 or www.edcc.org.
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