Lona Jean York Vance

Lona Jean York Vance, age 79, from Charlotte NC and Dandridge TN, passed away Sunday August 20, 2023, at home surrounded by family and friends. Lona Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Victoria Evans York, her sister Tchaundia York Smith and her in-laws, Dazzy and Mary Ruth Vance.

Lona Jean was a mother to many--her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews even her friends children who sometimes wondered who was the mom. In earlier years, Lona Jean and her girls, aka “the 3 musketeers”, relied on each other to get through some hard times.

She was a people person; if you didn’t know her when you walked in the room, you were a special friend by the time you parted. She was free hearted, and her home was always open to all. The more people there, the happier she was. She was a great seamstress, making clothes, costumes, robes, whatever someone needed. She loved quilting and in the Lona Jean way she didn’t make one or two she made hundreds over the course of a few years. Lona Jean with her husband Ron made a great life together. Two families became one, and as the family grew their love grew as well. Lona Jean handled her cancer diagnosis with such grace, never complaining and as we all tried to bring her comfort, she would end up comforting us. Ron was her Rock, the love of her life, and when he walked in the room all things were better.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023, at 2:00 PM in Grace Baptist Church, followed by burial in Forest Lawn East Cemetery. The family will visit with friends and relatives from 1:00 - 1:45 PM prior to the service.

Survivors include her husband of 40 years, Ronald George Vance; daughters Connie (Jack) Wolfe Bailey, Sandy (Mark) Wolfe Cheek, Denise (Steve) Vance Fluhr, Rebecca (PK) Vance Lee, Jessica (Tim) Vance Martin; son/great-grandson, Clayton Mack (Chelsea) Smith; adopted daughters, Lucia Guevara Solis and Aracelly Guevara Solis; brothers Bill (Robin) York and Terry (Tammy) York; sisters, Pamela (Terry) Hill and Vicky (Michael) Shelton; brother-in-law, Joe Smith; grandchildren, Whitney Smith, Gentry Cox, Jordan Cheek, Parker Cheek, Samuel Fluhr, Ronald Fluhr, Alexander Fluhr, Lilly Fluhr, Noah Lee, Paul Kristopher Lee, Nickalos Lee, Kathryn Martin, Quincy Martin; great-grandchildren, Jasper Cox, Lennon Blue Cheek and great-great-grandchild, Bella Hickman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice, 222 Heritage Blvd., Newport, TN 37821 or Mt. Moriah Tabernacle, 3041 Old Hwy 25E, Morristown, TN 37813, or Grace Baptist Church, 3411 Weddington Road, Monroe, NC 28110.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com

Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112 is honored to be entrusted to care for the Vance family.