Dorothy Marie Mazzola Gipson, 88, of Orange, passed away peacefully and gracefully on July 7, 2014, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be from 9:00-10:00 a.m., Friday, with Reverend James Sichko reciting the Rosary at 10:00 a.m. at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 11, 2014, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Joseph P. Daleo of St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Orange.

Born in Orange, Texas, on May 14, 1926 she was the daughter of Ben Mazzola, Sr. and Anna (Lucia) Mazzola. Dorothy was a very devoted and active member of St. Mary Catholic Church where she was a 1946 charter member of the Catholic Daughters of Americas #1396, a member of the Altar Society and Perpetual Eucharistic Ministry. She was a volunteer for the church soup kitchen, garage sales, the school cafeteria, and was always willing to serve the church any way she could. Dorothy was a 1943 graduate from Stark High School where she was a member of the Bengal Guards. She was a Grey Lady and also volunteered at the Red Cross. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend who will be loved and cherished by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Anna Mazzola; her husband, H. Dewitt Gipson; siblings, Bessie Claybar and husband, Ambrose, John Mazzola, Sr. and wife, Catherine, Annie Blanda and husband, Louis, Mike Mazzola, Sr. and wife, Josephine, Benny Mazzola, Jr., Anthony Mazzola, Joseph Mazzola, Sr., Rosalie Guzzardi and husband, Joseph, Sr., Antoinette Herman and husband, Raymond, Jr., Louis Mazzola, Sr., and Genevieve Jeanis; brothers-in-law, George Bethard and B. D. Albright, Jr. and dear friend, Jim Edgerton.

She is survived by her sons, E. Dewitt Gipson and H. Grant Gipson and wife, Helen; daughter, Maria Gipson Hawkins and husband, Curt all of Orange; grandchildren, E. Dewitt Gipson, Jr. “Deon”, Jason D. Gipson, Aaron Gipson, Candace Gipson, and Blaise Hawkins; great-grandchildren, Ryan Gipson, Kinley Gipson, Logan Gipson, Jason D. Gipson, Jr. “Jace”, and Lane Gipson; sisters, Mary Frances Mazzola Bethard and Polly Mazzola Albright; sisters-in-law, Tibby Mazzola, Bessie Mazzola, and Anjo Mazzola; brother-in-law, Curtis Jeanis and dearest friend, Macy Edgerton.

Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Mazzola, Steve Mazzola, Louis Mazzola, Ambrose Claybar, James Herman and Joey Guzzardi. Honorary pallbearers will be Benny Michael Mazzola, Gilbert Mazzola, Gene Hawkins and Donald Guzzardi.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church: 912 West Cherry Avenue Orange, Texas, 77630 or St. Mary Catholic School: 2600 Bob Hall Road Orange, Texas 77630.