Constance (Connie) Mae Dice went home to be with her savior peacefully during the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2026. She was found kneeling in prayer by her bedside.
She was born June 6, 1942, in Santa Cruz, Calif., to Martha and David Cummings.
She never knew her father because she was born while he was captured and later killed by the Japanese on Wake Island. Her mother later married Richard C. Kellogg of Tracy, Calif., whom adopted her.
She grew up in Tracy surrounded by extended family and friends from church. She lived an exciting childhood of travel and family adventures. She learned to play the piano and accordion. Music was very important to her. Later, she learned to play the organ.
She graduated from Tracy Joint Union High School (California) in 1960 and married Jonathan Lorance of Manteca, Calif., soon after. To this union, God gave them their only daughter, Lisa. They lived on the Lorance Dairy until they parted ways.
She later married Delbert Dice of Manteca. He encouraged her to share her love of music and they opened Connie’s Organ Studio which was located at 227 N. Main Street in Manteca. She taught piano, organ and accordion lessons to many students.
She also was the organist for Bergthold’s Mortuary. She also played for many weddings. She retired from teaching music in 1982 when Delbert retired from the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.
They sold their home in Manteca and moved to Twain Harte. In 1990, they relocated to Mariposa, where they lived until Delbert’s death in 2011.
In Mariposa, she was a member of First Baptist Church and often played the organ for their Sunday services. Delbert had multiple strokes and ultimately became homebound.
She cared for him at home for 10 years until he was then moved to Ewing Wing at John C. Fremont Hospital. To pass the time, she crocheted many beautiful items for her grand and great-grandchildren. She won many ribbons at the Mariposa County Fair.
One of her favorite memories was her trip to Germany and Austria where she and Lisa made a mother/daughter trip to Garmish, Berchtesgaden, Chiemsee, Munich and the Neuschwanstein castle. She loved swans and was is enamored with the various swans depicted in the castle.
After Delbert’s death, she sold their home in Mariposa and relocated to Lawton, Okla., to be near her daughter. She was a member of Central Baptist Church. As her health declined, she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Steven Ranson. Her granddaughter, Shelby Cunningham, faithfully cared for her each day while Steven and Lisa were at work.
She is survived by her brother, Tim Kellogg of Alhambra, Calif.; her daughter, Lisa and Steven Ranson; three grandchildren, Andrew, Susan ( Justin) McGregory and Shelby (Tommy) Cunningham; six great grandchildren, Mathis, Caleb, Anna, Micah and Isaac McGregory and Drew Ranson.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
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