A native of Browder, Kentucky, Dorothy was the eldest of five children born to the late Eldon Arnold and Irene Pogue Arnold.
She was preceded in death by her love, helpmate, and husband, James H. Fann, JR., her siblings, brothers Horace Arnold and wife Lou of Flat Rock, Alabama, James Calvin, (J.C.), Arnold and wife Ettamae of Hixson, Tennessee, sisters, Shirley Smith of Flat Rock, Alabama and Margaret Lois Arnold of Browder, Kentucky.
She was survived by her two daughters Deanne Fann and husband Matthias Freihube of Enterprise, Alabama, and Susie Brown and husband Jeff of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, her brother-in-law Charles Smith, her grandchildren, Stephen Baylor-Gilder, and wife Patricia, Sean Michael Gilder, T.J. Brown and Chelsea Brown. Dorothy is also survived by great grandchildren Reese Gilder and wife Brittany, Carson Gilder and Melody Jean Gilder as well as great, great-grandchildren Eleanora Gilder and Fiona Majors.
Dee was a member of the churches of Christ.
She loved, nurtured, and mentored her many wonderful nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.
She enjoyed caring for her family of daughters, her brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews by coordinating gardens, harvesting and “putting up” days for canning harvested produce, initiating camping trips and family gatherings. She was creative and an innovator of designing and sewing dresses for her daughters as well as making draperies for Sears and Roebuck. Her creativity was also seen in her writings, which included many short stories and life memories. She was a member of the River City Writers Club. Dorothy was a political force in Chattanooga promoting policies that protected the rights of children. She was a local artist and lecturer. She was a graphic artist, working for TVA, and an award-winning graphic designer retiring from the Chattanooga News Free Press/Times newspaper. She taught art to anyone of any age who wished to learn to draw and paint.
She will be missed by family and friends but her memory will never be forgotten by those who loved her.
Visitation with the family will be on Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Browns Ferry Road Church of Christ located at 159 Browns Ferry Road in Chattanooga. Her Celebration of Life will follow at 4:00 pm. A graveside service will be held Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Gentiva Hospice in Enterprise, Alabama or the Kingwood Church of Christ in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com
Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd., East Ridge, TN., has been entrusted with the arrangements.
DONATIONS
Gentiva Hospice 1032 Boll Weevil Cir Suite D, Enterprise, Alabama 36330
Kingwood Church of Christ115 MTCS Rd, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129
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