Dona Jean (Jones) Brown

Dona Jean (Jones) Brown, 80, passed away Friday November 21, 2025, at her home in Rock Island, IL.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce this. Dona was born on May 13, 1945, the daughter of Marion P. and Anna L. Jones.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday November 26, 2025, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens in East Moline. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the family or Esterdahl Mortuary.

Dona married James “Jim” Brown on December 28, 1959. They later divorced. They had four children, James Lee Brown (stillborn), Coni Brown of Moline, James Douglas Brown of Rock Island and Cindy (Rod) Helg of Andover. They had two grandchildren, Nicholas (Rainey) Brown of Spokane, Washington and Brittany (Roy) Puffett of Rock Island, and one great grandson, Jaydon Brown of Spokane, Washington.

Dona married Jim Brown in Rock Island at the age of 14. They eloped and moved to Fort Madison, Iowa. They then moved to Rock Island and Jim worked at The Bakery alongside his father-in-law. Dona worked at the East Moline State Hospital. Dona and Jim were part-owners of Jimbo’s Pizza in Cambridge, IL. They later moved to Camdenton, Missouri and opened 2 more pizza parlors – one in Camdenton and one in Osage Beach. They also had an Ozark Drive-Inn in Camdenton. They later moved back to Illinois.

Dona loved family outings and gatherings. She was always planning family picnics at the park. She loved camping in Alpha, IL, gardening with mom, dad, and Nick in Andover, IL. She especially loved when nieces, nephews, and everyone would call and drop by to give her hugs and kisses.

Her favorite music was country and good ole gospel. Dona was also a very good listener - comfort-personified - and an excellent cook. Anything you wanted to do – she was game. She was a lifelong member of Edgewood Baptist Church in Rock Island. She is already missed.

Dona was loved by everyone.

Along with her children, Dona is also survived by her brother, Phil; sister-in-law, Lois; lifelong best friends, Barb, Charlotte and Sandy; and many nieces and nephews.

She has been reunited in heaven with her grandparents, parents, son, brothers, Jessie and Bobby, sisters, Violet, Bonnie and Ella; brothers-in-law, Larry, Bert, Jerry, Larry, Paul; sisters-in-law, Pat, Bev, Lois, Pam and many nieces and nephews.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.