Beckie L. Dooner

Becky Dooner, age 76, known to many as Grandma D, died on January 1, 2019 in Clearwater, FL. She was born on May 28,1942 at 1:43am in Urbana Ohio. She was the second child of Starling and Juanita Pence. After only three years in Ohio, her mother packed her and her sister Betty and they moved to Gainesville, FL. A few years later they relocated to Tampa, FL. Becky attended Oak Grove Middle Junior High School and Chamberlain Senior High School. While she did go back to Ohio to spend the summers with her father and sister on the farm in Urbana, she spent the majority of her adult life in Tampa.

After graduating high school in 1961 she attended business school for two years. Her first job was at Jim Walter Homes where she worked for more than 30 years. She started as a secretary for Arnold, Jim Walter’s brother in law. She was only the second woman in Jim Walter Homes history to become a Vice President in the 80’s.

She met her first husband, John Mook at Jim Walters Homes. They were married in 1966 and had their first and only child, Elena Marie Mook, on January 20, 1970. She enjoyed many things with John and Elena like fishing, the beach, cooking and camping at the property in Gulf Hammock for many years with friends. In her 40’s she decided to try snow skiing and scuba diving. In 1995, John and Becky decided to get divorced. An old family friend, Gene Dooner, started asking Becky out. Gene came to see Becky many times and love blossomed. He was the one who told her she needed to see a doctor because he thought she had the early signs of Parkinson’s. After a visit to Emory University she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 54. But she didn’t let that slow her down.

She and Gene went to Alaska on a cruise, Oregon to see his daughter, Exuma, Bahamas and the place she loved the most, the house in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

She had moved to Naples with Gene in August 1997. They were married on July 2, 1998. And within the next few years Gene built Becky her dream home.

In November 1997, Becky gained a son in law, Bill Wiener. Becky was involved in all the wedding plans for Elena and Bill. And then on March 9,1999, she became a grandmother for the first time to Kaitlyn Brooke. Three years later on March 23, 2002, she became a grandmother for a second time to Brenna Faith. She was in the room with Elena and Billy for both births. Grandma D loved her granddaughters so much she made a trip to Safety Harbor every month for a few days to see them.

In June 2010, Gene passed away from a battle with cancer. By August 2014 she had packed up everything and moved in with Elena, Billy, Kaitlyn and Brenna in Safety Harbor. We finally decided to build a home where she would have her own space, we moved in April 2016. Becky was involved in almost everything with Elena, Billy and the girls. She attended soccer games, volleyball games, Girl Scout meetings, birthday parties, and trips to Banner Elk. As her Parkinson’s progressed, she slowed down, but she never let it get her down. She was always up for an adventure, a good meal, shopping, a good movie, a margarita, beer, or sangria and anything that meant she got to be with her family. Becky was loved by all who knew her.

She is survived by her sister, Betty Reed, of Plain City, OH, daughter and son in law, Elena and Bill Wiener, of Clearwater, FL, her granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Brenna Wiener, of Clearwater, FL, step -daughters, Joan Dooner of Oregon and Nancy Lee of Naples, step-son, Anton Dooner ( Cindy) of Montezuma, NC ,niece, Paula (Andy) Thomas, of Plain City, OH, her niece, Laurie Cowart, of New Port Ritchey, FL, grand nieces and nephews, Michael Reedy ( Doug) of St Pete, Britney & Dillon Cowart of New Port Ritchey, best friends, Laurie, Randy & Ashley Christman of Naples, many friends and her beloved dog, Daisy Mae.

A memorial service will be held at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home on Saturday, January 13, 2019 from 11am-2pm. 2853 Sunset Point Road Clearwater, FL

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day Tampa Bay, Grandfather Home for Children in Banner Elk, NC or Avery County Humane Society in Newland, NC (two charities she herself donated to)