Dolores Stewart

Dolores Stewart - 92 (f.k.a. Dolores Henry) of Boise, Idaho passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, September 28, 2020 from complications of COVID-19.

She was a great Woman, Mother, Grandmother (Granny), Great Aunt (Aunt-Granny) and Great-Grandmother (Great-Granny). How do you write 92 years’ worth of life, love and colorful character in just a few columns?

Dolores was all about family and people. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 12, 1928 to Godbey and Lessie Mae Henry, the third of four girls. She spoke of growing up in Tulsa and how hot it was there. Each summer they would fill up their basement with water and the local kids would all come over to swim. As a young adult, she lived and worked in Houston, TX. She spoke often of a place she loved working called "Young Bloods". She loved working with the public as a waitress and bartender. She was married seven times (twice to the same man) throughout her lifetime and dated some very colorful men. One was a professional wrestler, one was a trapezist in the circus, and one was a survivor of Pearl Harbor.

It was in the mid 1950's in Houston where she married Doug Sanders "Sandy". In 1957, tragedy struck the Henry family. Dolores lost her two older sisters, Louise and Barbara, in two separate car accidents where they were each hit by drunk drivers. These events had a profound effect on her to always show her love... and that is why she would always kiss and hug the people she loved whenever she left to go somewhere, when she got back, before bed, and as soon as she woke up. This was instilled into our whole family and still occurs with all of her kids to this day.

It was after this tragedy that Sandra and Richard were born. In the early 1960's, she divorced Sandy and moved back to Tulsa where she married Richard "Dick" Stewart. They moved to Dallas, Texas where they had a third child, Lori. It was late 1960's when the family moved to Sacramento, California and then ended up in Redding, California until 1986 when they divorced.

Later in life, she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Bob, in Weed, California; and then she lived with her daughter and daughter-in-law, Lori and Brandia, in Boise, Idaho; and near her son Rich, in Garden City, Idaho. Her final years were spent at the Life Care of Boise center where she formed a close bond with and was loved by all the nurses and staff.

Dolores was preceded in death by both parents and all three sisters. She is survived by her daughter Sandra Raven (Bob); her son Rich Stewart; her daughter Lori Stewart (Brandia); her five grandchildren: David Raven, Misty Stewart, Crystal Colburn (Declan), Justin Stewart, and Chance Stewart; her great-grandson Samuel Christie; numerous nieces and nephews; and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

She touched everyone she came in contact with and was loved by all. She loved to travel and went with her sister, Mary, on a cruise. She was funny, witty, kind and loved to tell stories. She was very social, loved to have a drink, bowl, play cards, dominos and loved playing Farkle. But her family was first and foremost the most important thing to her, even until the very last minute of her life, she had to make sure all us kids were going to be all right.

There was a Celebration of Life on October 3, 2020 at the Phillippi Park in Boise, Idaho. There will be an additional Celebration of Life sometime in the summer of 2021 so that out of town family can attend, pending the condition of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Final note from Dolores' daughter Lori: Please take this COVID-19 pandemic seriously. Had mom not had the virus; I believe she would still be here today. Wear your masks, practice social distancing and wash your hands often.