Dorothy "Dot" Anne Vrana

June 17, 1937 - July 8, 2026

Dorothy Vrana was born June 17, 1937 in Mission, Texas to Harmon and Leola Stoops. She was the oldest of three children. Dot graduated from McAllen High School in 1955. Immediately after high school the family relocated from The Valley to Kingsville, which was the only way they could afford to send Dot to Texas A&I where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Education in 1958 and her Master of Education in 1976.

Dot married Charles Weaver August 1958 in Long Branch, New Jersey.  While living the Army life they had two daughters, Teri Lynn Weaver, born in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania in October 1959.  When Teri was one year old, Charlie received orders for a tour of duty in Korea.  So back to Kingsville went Dot and Teri to live with her parents while Charlie was overseas. When Charlie came home from Korea it was back to Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey and they added Cheryl Anne Weaver in October 1963 to their family.  When Cheryl was just six weeks old, Charlie was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Nine months later Charlie got orders for a three-year tour in Paris, France.  The next three years they spent traveling in Europe as often as Charlie could get leave.

After returning from a 3-year tour in Paris, France, the family moved to Corpus Christi to be near family while Charlie went to Viet Nam.  He left Texas August of 1967 and was killed three months later in November 1967 when the helicopter he was in caught fire and crashed.  Dot was 30 years old, Teri just turned 8 and Cheryl had just turned 4.  Three years later Dot married Donald Vrana and the family moved to Jourdanton, Texas.  Donald had four children, Debbie, Donnie, DeLisa and David. Donald died of cancer in 1988, and Dot found herself a widow once again.

Dot's career of 43 years in education spanned from 1959-2005. She taught elementary, special education, she became an Educational Diagnostician and then was the Special Education Director of the Atascosa McMullen Co-op.

Dot loved to travel.  She and Charlie traveled all over Europe.  Dot and Donald along with their travel buddies, Tommy and Brenda Franklin, Tito and Margaret Potts, and Frank and Maureen Vyvlecka traveled through New Mexico, Colorado and Utah for many summers.  After Dot retired, she and her suitcase and sometimes passport went on as many of Jacque Stacy's tours as possible. Dot also became a volunteer for CASA. She loved being an advocate for children.

Dot was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Weaver, father, Harmon Charles Stoops, mother, Leola Derr Stoops, brother, Harmon Clete Stoops, husband, Donald Vrana, and son, Donnie Vrana.

She is survived by her sister, Sally Stoops Dixon, her daughters, Teri Wood (Mike), Cheryl Shutt (Danny), Debbie McCullough, DeLisa Phelan, and David Vrana (Polly). Grandchildren, Kyle, Zachary, Cameron (Andrea), Stephanie (Cody), Quincy, Kaitlyn (Nathan), Jamie, Rae, Michelle, Zachery (Jennifer), Will (Christy), Jordan (Blayne) and Angela.  22 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CASA of South Texas PO Box 343, Pleasanton TX 78064 and Atascosa McMullen Retired School Personnel (AMRSP) for student scholarships 103 Pulliam Drive, Pleasanton TX 78064

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Hurley Funeral Home chapel, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm, followed by a celebration of life on Friday, July 17, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church, Jourdanton, starting at 11:00 am, with a reception to follow.