Doranne Sims

Our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Doranne Brown Sims, passed peacefully into the eternal arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the early morning of November 18, 2022, at the age of 83 at Carillon House Rehab in Lubbock, Texas. Doranne was born at home on Snyder Street in Hobbs, New Mexico on July 12, 1939, the middle child of Joseph William Brown and Winnye Worley Brown. She was a lifelong Hobbs resident, although she had bought a house and moved to Lubbock in March 2022. Doranne attended Hobbs schools and graduated from Hobbs High School in 1957. She attended Abilene Christian University for one year. Doranne met Weldon Neil Sims, the love of her life, at the Brown’s North 40 Miniature Golf Course on Bender Blvd. in Hobbs.   As long as they were able, Weldon and Doranne were both avid golfers all during their adult lives. They were married on May 17, 1958, in the bride’s parents’ backyard on St. Anne Place. Doranne had a life well-lived and well-loved. During her adult life, she worked as a secretary for Hobbs Schools, Hobbs Country Club, and Schlumberger. She was also a bank teller at Fidelity Savings and Loan. From May 1988 to May 1991, Doranne and Weldon owned and operated North 40 Coffee Shoppe Restaurant on Bender Blvd in Hobbs. During her lifetime, Doranne especially enjoyed her potted plants, and enjoyed keeping her front yard and back yard looking green and lush. She would rather be outside with her little chihuahua dog, Coco, and Mother Nature than be anywhere else. Doranne was a bit of an artist, since she enjoyed painting flowers, fruit, and animals on china and wooden plaques, and enjoyed just about all arts and crafts. She used her artistic talents for the Lord by being a part of the team who painted Bible story scenes in the hallways of the children’s classrooms at Taylor St. Church of Christ. She loved to collect dollhouse miniature furniture and accessories too. Doranne was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Weldon Neil Sims, her parents, Joe and Winnye Brown of Hobbs, her younger brother, Joe Lynn Brown of Hobbs, and a nephew, Christopher Lynn Brown of Hobbs. Doranne leaves behind an older brother, Harold Jay Brown/Ida of Hobbs, a paternal aunt, Ann Brown Hodges of Norman, Oklahoma, a son, Doug Sims/Ann of Lubbock, a daughter, Leigh Ann Nelson/Erick of Midland. She also leaves behind her grandson, Joseph Sims/Jordan of Lubbock, her granddaughter, Emily Sims Howard/Garrison of Seminole, and granddaughters Kelly Nelson of Lubbock, and Allison Nelson of Midland. She also leaves behind her four great-grandchildren, James and Walker Howard of Seminole, and Carter and Reese Sims of Lubbock, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

The family would like to thank their beloved Taylor St Church of Christ family, who showed an abundance of God’s love throughout Doranne’s lifetime. The family would also like to thank the medical staff in Lubbock who gave her great care in her last months of life.