Dorothy Clare Manchenton

Dorothy Clare Higgins Manchenton, Lowell, MA native, Tucson Resident

TUCSON, Ariz. — Dorothy C. Manchenton, 96, a resident of Tucson since 1961, died Thursday November 14, 2024.

She was born in Lowell, August 6, 1928, daughter of the late Mable M. and Anthony L. Higgins. She was educated in Lowell schools, graduating from Lowell High School in 1946. She was a member of St. Rita’s Cadets as a twirler and the first girl Majorette, leading the marching band.

She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Sahuaro Post 68 for 37 years, and participated in many volunteering events to improve the lives of veterans of the US military. She was a bookkeeper for her husband’s construction company and intermittently worked as a bookkeeper for the University of Arizona Basic Sciences Center and other commercial companies.

She was preceded by her beloved husband, Edward F. Manchenton, to whom she was married for 57 years, her son Mark E. Manchenton, and her grandchildren Adam M. Manchenton and Veronica M. Gantt, son-in-law Joe Wheeler, and daughter-in-law Lauri Manchenton. She is survived by six of her children and their spouses, Kristine Wheeler of Green Valley, AZ, Michael (Marie) Manchenton, Marybeth (Les) Andree, Karen (Paul) Gantt, Melanie (Gene) McQuirt, of Dayton, OH, and Dr. Kevin Manchenton; 11 grandchildren, Annette (Wade) Marable, Brian Baker, Patrick Manchenton, Marcia Manchenton, Ryan (Traci) Manchenton, Valerie Andree, Daniel (Rhonda) Anderson, Anthony (Sarah) Anderson and Christopher (Annie) Anderson, great-grandchildren Stephen Bratton, Ryana (Cody) Wagner, Trey (Lacey) Marable, Alyssa Marable, Casey Fulbright, Brandie (Raquem) Hankins, Anthony Manchenton, Angelina Kelly, Jacob and James Manchenton, Nicholaus Moore, Kaylee, Ryan II, and Aubrie Manchenton, great-great-grandchildren Kaydence and Maxximus Bratton, Brilyn, and Cade Wagner, McKinley Marable, Shawn and Elena Hankins, Nova Hayton, Adalyn, Daniel Jr., Hunter, Owen, Gabriel and Braxton Anderson.

She is also survived by her sister, Carol Brown of Hyannis, MA, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded by sisters Mary (Bernard) Ready of Chelmsford, MA, June (Duncan) Sullivan of Bourne, MA, brother William (Elizabeth) Jacksonville, FL, sister-in-law Dr. Ann (Henry) Lisien, Ph.D., of Seabrook, NH; brothers-in-law Daniel Manchenton, John (Rita) Manchenton, William (Claudette) Manchenton of Lowell, MA.

She will be remembered at a Requiem Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Friday, November 22, 2024 at 1 P.M. Interment will be at the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, AZ, on Monday, November 25, at 1 P.M. Memorial Contributions can be sent to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.