of Little Rock, AR

July 11, 1925 - August 24, 2025

Dora Jean Calvert Aronowitz, 100 years old, passed away on Sunday morning August 24, 2025 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born July 11, 1925 in Waketon, (Denton County) Texas to John and Sealie (McLeod) Calvert. Jean grew up in the Waketon community, close to what is now known as Flower Mound. Growing up was hard with a family of 8 and by the time Jean started school in the 1930's the country was in the midst of the Great Depression.
Jean became a follower of Christ at a young age while attending a Brush Arbor summer revival at Chinn's Chapel, a rural Methodist Church in her community. Jean's faith was an anchor for her the rest of her life. She lived out a quiet, consistent faith that blessed her family and friends.

At the age of 18 Jean attended North Texas Teachers College. By the end of the school year the US had entered World War II. She moved to Dallas in 1943 to find a job. In 1945 she met and started dating Marty Aronowitz, a marine who was stationed on a base near Dallas. Jean and Marty married February 23, 1946. Marty and Jean moved to Ft Worth in 1951. Jean was a solid and steady influence in raising her children and supporting Marty in his career. Marty and Jean's home became a magnet for many people from all walks of life because of Jean's hospitality and graciousness.

Jean was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend to many. She gave of her time, talents and resources to her family, friends, church and community. Jean was kind, thoughtful, beautiful, classy, athletic, competitive, fun-loving, adventurous, artistic and above all, a great listener and
encourager for whoever she was with. Her competitive spirit came out playing dominoes with her daughter and son in law, at 99 years old she still did not want to lose!

After Jean's children were raised, her artistic talents blossomed while taking oil painting lessons. Her beautiful paintings are enjoyed by family and friends. Jean was widowed in August of 1986 and for the next 31 years she continued to live in the home she and Marty shared. She volunteered at her church, Pantego Bible Church and
took leadership roles in her One Plus group, the Sages class, teaching children's Sunday School and financial bookkeeping. She was a student of the Bible and was a great friend to many other women in her church and community.

She made many trips to see her children and grandchildren by whom she was affectionately known as Grams.
Jean read the Ft Worth Star Telegram every morning with her coffee for 65 years. She and Marty were known for a fruitcake recipe which JoAnn Vachule published in the Star Telegram in November of 1965. The fruitcake recipe was a hit and became a Ft Worth tradition for many years. In 2017 Jean moved to Little Rock, AR to live with her daughter, Anne and son in law, David. For the next eight years she developed a new community of friends that came to love her deeply.

Grams loved her caregivers Carol, Misty, Stacy and Kanisha who helped carry her through the last months and days of her life. Many thanks to Gentiva Hospice who also assisted in Jean's care.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Martin (Marty) Aronowitz (1986); her granddaughter, Jeanie Newell (1983) and daughter-in-law, Dona Kay (Hix) Aronowitz (2018).

She is survived by her brother, Wayne Calvert of Denton, TX; as well as her daughter, Anne (David) Newell and their children: son, Jake (Jennifer) Newell of Bentonville, Arkansas and children, Joseph and John; daughter, Emily (Cory) Roth of Hartsel, Colorado; son, Stephen Newell and his son, Aiden of Colorado Springs, Colorado and son, Andrew (Sara) Newell of Scottdale, Georgia and children, Alden and Margot. She is also survived by her son, Steven Aronowitz (and the late Dona) of Ankeny, Iowa: son, John (Mollie) Aronowitz of Rockville, Maryland and their children, Leigh and Jack; son, Mark (Becca) Aronowitz of Richmond Hill, Georgia and children, Avery and Felix; daughter, Amy (Doug) Bear of Ankeny, Iowa and children, Madeline, Eleanor, Vivian and Emmett and daughter, Lisa (Andrew) Selvadurai of Ankeny, Iowa and children, Ava and Devin. Jean is also survived by a total of 14 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jean's life will be held on Friday, September 5th, 11:00am at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, 8300 Kanis Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204. A Graveside Service and Burial will follow on Monday, September 8th 10:30am Greenwood Memorial Park, 3400 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

Flowers can be sent to St Andrews Anglican Church or to Greenwood Memorial Park.
Donations can be made to one of Jean's favorite charities, St Jude Hospital, stjude.org.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com