Dorothy Ann Branscum

Dorothy Ann Branscum, 78, of Clinton, departed from this world on Friday, October 1, 2021 surrounded by her family. She was born December 1, 1942 in Marshall, Arkansas to the late Garner Blake Sutterfield and Alta Elizabeth Massey Sutterfield. Dorothy grew up in Marshall, Arkansas and graduated from high school in 1960. She married Deloran Watts in 1961 and they had two daughters. Dorothy worked in her in- laws grocery store at the café and later the Flint Rock Shirt Company; she worked her way up to be a floor supervisor and then later managed their retail shirt store up until the mid-1970s. In 1972 she married Sid Branscum and soon after moved to Clinton and started working for Coffman Funeral Home as an office manager. In 1986 Roller McNutt purchased Coffman Funeral Home and Dorothy continued to work for them as office manager. In 1981 she obtained her Arkansas Funeral Directors License and was deputy coroner from 1982 to 1999. In 2000, she was made the manager of Roller McNutt Funeral Home and was elected as VBC Coroner. Dorothy continued her work serving families in Van Buren County through the funeral home and VBC Coroners office until she began having some health issues and retired as the manager and did not seek to be re-elected to the coroner’s office in 2008. She continued to work part time for Roller up until January of 2009. 

After retirement, Dorothy moved to Culpepper with her two daughters where she enjoyed being with her family. She loved being outside in the yard and tending to her roses. She loved sitting on the porch, drinking her coffee, and telling funeral home stories; mostly talking about how much she missed her “funeral home people”. Dorothy loved driving her ole red pick-up; she would drive almost every day to see her best friend Mary Moore, she loved Ms. Mary dearly.

You know she liked ya if she gave you a hard time, and if you were special enough for her to love you, then you are very fortunate. Dorothy worked hard her entire life, always giving unselfishly to others, never putting herself first. Today, we put her first.

Dorothy is lovingly remembered by her two daughters, both of Clinton, Lisa Drew and husband Terry, Angie Jones and Robbie Douthitt; two grandchildren, Somer Cheyenne Swofford of Clinton and Briar Dale Swofford and wife Casey of Clarksville, Tennessee; two great grandchildren, Jaxxton “Jacks” Thomas Tuff Fowler and Rawlins “Rawly Girl” Lane Swofford, and soon to be born Trigger Hayes Swofford and a host of many other family members and friends whom she loved.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Blake and Alta Sutterfield; husband, Sid Branscum; brothers, Harold Dean and Ivan Eugene; one sister, Jimmie Sue Avey and her fur baby Peewee.

Dorothy Branscum dedicated her life’s work to serving people. She served as Van Buren County Coroner and a Funeral Director for many years.  Dorothy helped people in many ways, and at times when they didn’t have the means to pay for funerals and final expenses, she paid out of her own pocket.

In Lieu of flowers, her family is establishing a memorial fund in her honor to continue helping people. The Dorothy Branscum memorial fund will be set up at Simmons bank. All funds will be used to help families in need with final expenses.  At this time donations can be made at Ozark View Funeral Home until an account is established on Monday, then all donations to The Dorothy Branscum Memorial Fund   can be made at any Simmons bank location.

A gathering in remembrance service will be held Monday, October 4, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Ozark View Funeral Home. A Celebration of Dorothy's life will be held Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 2:00 p.m. at Ozark View Funeral Home with Wesley Watts officiating.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ozark View Funeral Home. To sign Dorothy’s Book of Memories, please go to www.ozarkviewfunealhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy Ann Branscum, please visit our floral store.