Dessie Mann, beloved "mother," "Mom", "Mamaw", Mimi," "Aunt Dessie" and "Dessie Mae", was born in Athens, Texas, March 23, 1917, to Homer Ransom Benton and Dovie Gertrude (Calhoun) Benton. She died on March 19, 2014, at Sterling House in Denton.

She always said what made her happiest in life was being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was employed and love her work at General Dynamics (now Lockheed) in Department 73, for over 30 years, retiring on March 23, 1983. She was married to James Mann for 45 years and loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as her own.

Dessie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James Mann, and her brothers, O.Z. Benton and Oran Benton. She is survived by her son, E.R. Milner, and her daughter-in-law, Sue; her granddaughter, Camille Milner and husband Tim Crouch; her grandson, Wesley Milner and wife Susan Milner; her great-grandchildren, Charles Wesley Crouch, Madison Milner, William Crouch and Michael Milner. She is also survived by her husband's four children, Lynn, Nelda, Gary and Richard and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, her five nephews, Melvis, Ed, Homer, Omer, and Tracy Benton and her niece, Patricia Benton. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Clara Benton and Irene Jolly.

There is a quote from the movie "Arthur" (when Arthur lost "Hobson," the man who was his surrogate father) that best describes our thankfulness for Dessie. "We were lucky just to know her".

The family would especially like to thank those members of the Sterling House family, both Lillian Miller and Hinkle locations, Donna Bluhm with Geri-Options, Jan, Carol and Donna of Ardent Hospice, Sheri Bock Harris, and Dr. Renaud Rodrique who, among countless others, all contributed their gifts, talents and love in helping care for Dessie the last years of her life.

Services will be held at DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W. University Dr., Denton, Texas at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 22, 2014. Internment will be following the service at Cooper Creek Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to Ardent Hospice, 700 Parker Square, Suite 105, Flower Mound, TX 75028 or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.