Our little Community is sad to hear that on January 11 Dolores Jefferson had passed on. She was a past president of our association and helped run the USDA food distributions at Copper Mountain Mesa many years ago. Our board voted last week to have Dolores’s name inscribed on our Honor Roll Plaque for service to the community.
        It was a cold day with patches of snow in the shadows of trees as Ruth Tuttle and I arrived at Mountain Valley Memorial Park for Dolores’s services in the chapel that was overflowing with family and friends who wished to pay their respects. Folks in wheelchairs, Mothers holding their babies, and well dressed children running around outside.
        Inside Dr. John Hardison was officiating the services. Family got up to speak first: Delores’s son and daughter began. John saying that his Mom was his best friend and then conveyed his feelings to all without any additional words as his sister Terry recited a letter from their sister Judy who couldn’t be there and thanking all who came. Then Terry’s son Michael Clemence sung a song and did an excellent job at it. Michael’s big brother Paul spoke elegantly and to the point about his Grandmother, of her kindness and caring of folks who have fallen on hard times, and of her involvement in the Kid’s Club.
        Then friends spoke: Susan Weston said that Dolores took her under her wing and referred to her as her adoptive daughter and helped her through some bad times. Westly Furqueron talked about fighting the Water Board with Dolores. And that she came to visit him in the hospital when she herself was sick. Freddy her neighbor said that he was really touched by Dolores, that she had changed his life. Finally Dr. John Hardison who knew Dolores since 1961 had some kind words to share.
        After the services everyone went to the Joshua Tree Community Center, where Delores spent so much of her time, to have lunch prepared by her long time friend Rickey Tagle of Arturo’s Restaurant. When everyone was served Rickey stood in the middle of the room and started speaking about Delores when his cell phone rang, he answered it saying, “yes, yes, ok”, then telling all that it was Dolores and that she said for everyone to have fun and thanks for coming.