Obituary for Dolores G. Johnson (Willis)
Dolores Geraldene Johnson, (Holton) age 87, passed away in Tucson, Arizona surrounded by her loved ones on Monday, May 27, 2019. She was born on November 12, 1931 in Roswell, New Mexico to Louis Hamilton Willis and Mary Pearl (Stoddard) Willis. Dolores attended a one-room grade school in Roswell. She moved with her family to Willcox, Arizona where she met and married William O. Holton on June 7, 1948. Together, they had five children.
Dolores worked for the Willcox Unified School District for many years and made many lifelong friends. In the late 1970’s, she moved to Escondido, California and worked for the California Adult Education Program. It was there that she met and married Leland Johnson. Her family grew as she became stepmother to his six children. They both retired and eventually moved to Willcox, Arizona where she volunteered at the local library and hospice. Dolores and Lee were married for 32 years. They enjoyed gardening and won “yard of the month” one summer. They also enjoyed traveling and spent 6 weeks in Peru, where they visited Machu Picchu.
Dolores’ special interests and hobbies included raising a family, gardening, and caring for her beloved Yorkie, Reggie. She was an avid bird watcher and spent lots of time observing them. She even had roadrunners nest in her backyard. One of her favorite pastimes was her weekly card group. She also loved to spend time with her grandchildren and knew how to make them feel very special.
She is survived by her brother Louis H. Willis, Jr; children William, Robert (Sharon), Connie (John), Karen, and Helen (Michael); and stepchildren Sharon, Karen, Tom (Linda), Jim, Susan, and Teena. Dolores is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Anna, Brian, Garrett, Danielle, Megan, Jennifer, and Kimberlee; 7 great-grandchildren, Alessa Mae, Amber, Bode, Lola, Ava, Xander, and Michael, and many nieces and nephews.
Dolores was a people person. She had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. She was fun-loving, generous, and compassionate. She taught us to persevere through adversity and to see the good in everyone. She will be terribly missed, but we know she will always live on in our hearts. She will be loved forever.
A private service is planned in the fall. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.
Dolores worked for the Willcox Unified School District for many years and made many lifelong friends. In the late 1970’s, she moved to Escondido, California and worked for the California Adult Education Program. It was there that she met and married Leland Johnson. Her family grew as she became stepmother to his six children. They both retired and eventually moved to Willcox, Arizona where she volunteered at the local library and hospice. Dolores and Lee were married for 32 years. They enjoyed gardening and won “yard of the month” one summer. They also enjoyed traveling and spent 6 weeks in Peru, where they visited Machu Picchu.
Dolores’ special interests and hobbies included raising a family, gardening, and caring for her beloved Yorkie, Reggie. She was an avid bird watcher and spent lots of time observing them. She even had roadrunners nest in her backyard. One of her favorite pastimes was her weekly card group. She also loved to spend time with her grandchildren and knew how to make them feel very special.
She is survived by her brother Louis H. Willis, Jr; children William, Robert (Sharon), Connie (John), Karen, and Helen (Michael); and stepchildren Sharon, Karen, Tom (Linda), Jim, Susan, and Teena. Dolores is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Anna, Brian, Garrett, Danielle, Megan, Jennifer, and Kimberlee; 7 great-grandchildren, Alessa Mae, Amber, Bode, Lola, Ava, Xander, and Michael, and many nieces and nephews.
Dolores was a people person. She had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. She was fun-loving, generous, and compassionate. She taught us to persevere through adversity and to see the good in everyone. She will be terribly missed, but we know she will always live on in our hearts. She will be loved forever.
A private service is planned in the fall. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.