Dorothy Jean Brown

Dorothy Jean Brown was called home to Our Lord on February 2, 2022, she was 97 years old. Dorothy was born on May 17, 1924, in Globe, Arizona, the third daughter to Italian immigrants John Battista & Lena Madelina Caretto. Her father worked in the mines and her mother was a homemaker.

Upon graduating from Globe High School, Dorothy started working at Cubitto Jewelry Store in Globe, a job she enjoyed very much. While working in the store one day, a handsome man came in with a heart shaped box of candy and asked her out on a date.

She married the handsome Mr. Claude Brown, and in April of 1950 they became parents to their only child, Claude Brown Jr. Anyone who knew Dorothy, knew that the sun rose and set with that son of theirs. He was always referred to as “Son”. He was truly the apple of her eye.

Claude Sr. started working in the sheep business with his brothers which took the young family to many locations around Arizona and out of state as well. Later, they moved to Eager, followed by Flagstaff, where Claude Sr and Dorothy went into the wholesale grocery delivery business, delivering groceries to businesses in Northern Arizona. Another move took them to Fort Grant, near Safford, AZ which was a juvenile detention center for boys at the time. Dorothy managed the warehouse. The boys being detained there thought of Dorothy as a warm and wonderful lady who bent the rules a bit to make sure they had a birthday cake or other special treats.

Dorothy was a wonderful cook. She loved getting together with her mama and sisters, usually at Marion’s house in Globe, cooking up a storm, laughing and speaking Italian, then serving something amazing like homemade ravioli, totally from scratch. If there was a gathering of any kind, anywhere, you would most likely find Dorothy in the kitchen. She was able to cook and bake well into her 90’s.

Her greatest pleasure came from spending time with her family and her many wonderful friends she was blessed with. Second only to Son and the family were the Dallas Cowboys.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband Claude Sr, parents: Lena & Battista & sisters Marion Valerio & Lucille Woodburn.
Dorothy is survived by her son Claude Jr (Carolyn), 5 Grandchildren: Lindsey (Erick), Matt (Brittany), Regina, Craig (Jackie) and Kevin (Lisa). 9 Great grandchildren: Dillon, Colton, Riley, Camden, Alyssa, Falynn, Ellery, Barrett and Nolan; as well as her sister Kathleen, and several nieces and nephews. Many children of extended family and friends grew up affectionately calling her Grandma Dorothy. And she loved them all.

Memorial Services are pending. Donations in Dorothy’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Rest in Peace Dorothy Jean Caretto Brown. Thank you for the memories, you will be sorely missed by us all.