Dolores “Doe” Evangelina Zubizarreta Saylor passed away Saturday, May 2, 2020.
On February 5, 1939, in Boise, Idaho, Dolores was born to Mike (Cruz Mateo) and Marie Zubizarreta. Alongside her brother Dave she was raised at the family farm in Hot Springs; later accompanied by two sisters, Juanita and Joella. She worked on the farm - milking cows, tending chickens, bucking bails, gardening, cooking, and hauling water - and graduated from Hot Spring’s one room schoolhouse at 14. She attended Bruneau High School where she was valedictorian, an all-state basketball player, and relished ventures with friends; cow tipping, outhouse tipping, and ratting-out the poachers.
Yearning for something more, she joined St. Alphonsus Technical Training pursuing her interest in x-ray technology. Chasing her dream was more challenging than she expected forcing her into residency in Spokane, WA. As disorienting as the transfer was, it opened the door to an all new future. Enjoying an evening at Van’s Corner – Bar and Dance Hall in Priest Lake, Idaho, she met the love of her life, Rollie, and they danced the night away. In their 55 years together, their family grew with the addition of a son, John, and a daughter, Michele, lending to three grandchildren, Cruz, Miku, and Reianna and one great-granddaughter, Audree.
Putting her personal ambitions aside, they pursued the life of a Forest Ranger, living in cabins with rotted floors, bats in the attic, packrats in cellars, flying squirrels parasailing through the living room, and no telephone, television, radio or conveniences of the 20th century. Life in the back country and forests of north-western Montana life presented experiences of which most would never dream. Grocery shopping was at best a two-hour adventure of rough mountain roads, communication with the work through bi-monthly visits by the postman, and the ice cream truck a highly anticipated once-a-season visit from the produce man. Daytime entertainment for the Saylor family was rope swings, fishing excursions, milling around amongst the horses and pack-mules, building sandcastles on the beach where the South Fork of the Flathead River and the Spotted Bear River merged, joined. picking huckleberries and blackcaps, and collecting pinecones serenaded by bugling elk. Evenings were cards, boardgames, and an endless supply of records accompanied by the crackle of a potbelly stove. An experience-of-a-lifetime!
As her children got older and promotions delivered her from the backwoods, she was able to continue her childhood dreams as a X-ray technologist in Missoula, Montana; Ogden, Utah and finally back where it all started in Boise, Idaho. She was passionate about her career and dedicated to continuous learning which allowed her to enjoy her medical career for more than 40 years.
She was able to pursue her childhood dreams in Missoula, Montana and later in Ogden, Utah and Boise, Idaho as an x-ray technologist for 40+ years. She said, you should always enjoy what you do and never quit learning.
Dolores and Rollie retired in their dream home in Eagle, ID where they enjoyed working in the yard, hosting family events, and relaxing on mini vacations to Iowa, road trips to McCall, Idaho City, and Sun Valley, and a relaxing cruise to Alaska.
Her love and devotion were to her family and faith, while she enjoyed visits with life-long friends over coffee and endless conversations on the telephone. Her days always ended with a visit to the Adoration Chapel or praying the Rosary. Memorial contributions may be made in Dolores’ name to St. Ignatius Catholic School Foundation (6300 N. Meridian Road, Meridian, ID 83646) as education and learning were of significance to her.
Our family has truly been blessed by such an aspiring, persevering lady, and to this we wish there is a “Mother’s Day in Heaven”:
If Roses grow in Heaven
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother’s arms
And tell her they’re from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her,
And when she turns to smile,
Place a kiss upon her cheek,
And hold her for a while.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
But there is an ache within my heart
That will never go away.
She is survived by her spouse, Rollie Saylor, their two children: John (Mitsue) and grandchildren Miku and Reianna of Kusatsu, Japan, and Michele (Victor) Otazua of Meridian, Idaho and grandson Cruz (Stefanee) and great granddaughter, Audree of Montesano, WA. She is also survived by her two sisters, Juanita (Alberto) Bilbao and their two daughters of Boise, ID, and Joella (Matthew) Reynolds of Kettle Falls, WA and their three daughters and families, niece Tammy (Danny) Montes de Oca and family of Elko, NV, and numerous cousins. She is preceded in passing by her parents and brother, Dave.
Rosary and Funeral Services will be provided by Holy Apostles Catholic Church and are tentatively scheduled for late July 2020 when family and friends may enjoy a celebration of Dolores’ life.