Obituary of Dorothy Elizabeth Johnson

100, of Tucson passed at her home February 10, 2019. She was born on November 7,1918 in Anna, ILL. She moved to Tucson when she was 8 and graduated from Tucson High School. A memorial will be held at Adair funeral Home on Northern Ave in Tucson March 1,2019 at 2 PM. In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to The Tucson Cowbelle's Dorothy johnson Scholarship fund. Anne Marie Moore, Treasurer. 4903 S. Hacienda Trail, Willcox, AZ 85643 Historical Vail Resident Dorothy Johnson A picture of Dorothy in 2017 and 1937 Born in Anna Illinois on November 7, 1918, this pioneer Vail woman moved first to Tucson and attend grade school, Mansfield Jr High and Tucson High, graduating in 1936. It was in high school that she met her future husband, Virgil Johnson. After graduation Dorothy worked at Kress variety store on Congress St in Tucson. Dorothy 1936 Dorothy and Virgil 1937 Hidden Springs Ranch House with Virgil in Foreground Virgil and Dorothy married in Sept. of 1937 and moved to Virgil's parents ranch, The Johnson Double H Ranch, to live and help on the ranch. Walter and Johnson, Virgil's parents, had homesteaded the ranch around 1910 just South of Vail in the Santa Rita Mountains. Around 1940, Virgil and Dorothy bought a small ranch, in the Santa Rita's southeast of The Double H Ranch. Realizing that the small ranch they bought was not enough to raise a family, they then bought The Hidden Springs Ranch Southeast of Vail from a man named Charlie DeBaud; on Hwy 83, It was a smaller ranch than Virgil's parents but a good size family ranch raising 150 head of cattle. The ranch was in the middle of the Santa Rita Mountains and was beautifully landscaped with Oak, Juniper, and some Mesquite Trees dabbled around the pasture with Ocotillo, Prickly Pear, Amole, and occasional Cholla. At 4500 ft Elevation, it was in a perfect location for cattle raising, The ranch got its water only from springs and many time Dorothy had to get her own water form the pipes from the spring and boil it to drink and take baths. In the normal years that old adobe house built in the late 1800's was warm and cozy in the winter and cool in the summer with inside plumbing which was something Dorothy did not have on the ranch before. There was no electricity though and the only lighting was by oil lamps throughout the house. Dorothy helped Virgil on all ranch task, riding, doctoring cattle and horses when they were sick, cleaning springs as well as cooking and cleaning the house. A wood stove in the kitchen and an Ice box, (the real kind) to keep perishables cool for cooking on the wood stove. It was not until 1949 that they were able to get a Butane tank and buy a butane refrigerator and stove and oven. In 1952 they were able to buy a DC generator for lighting and electricity. What a change that was for the family. Ranch life was not easy, but Dorothy loved every minute of it and settled in to raise a family and help Virgil; raise their cattle. Dorothy and Virgil had two children Sandra and Walter, both who attended the old three-room Vail School being transported by bus every school day. They were the last to be dropped off and the first to be picked up making a school day in Vail from 6 AM to 5 PM. Trips to vail were about once a week to pick up mail at the Vail Post office and they always visited Mary Jan Warner, the post master, many time spending at least a half hour visiting with Mary Jane and friends that would come in while they were there, They then would travel back to Hwy 80 and get gasoline and perhaps some refreshments at The Texaco Station and Somewhat general store owned by Ruth Mathews. Many times, they would stay and have supper that Ruth Mathews would cook for them as they visited. Dorothy was instrumental in founding the Cowbelles, she was a 4 H leader, School Patrol leader, Brownie Scouts leader and volunteered for almost every pot luck put on in the Vail School year. She went on to be a President of the Tucson Cowbelles, Secretary of the Arizona State Cowbelles, Grand Noble of the Rebecca's and in 2002 was Cattle woman of the year for the Arizona Cattle Growers Association. In 1957, Virgil and Dorothy bought a house in Tucson due to lack of High Schools in the area and wanted their children not have to be hauled all the way from the hidden Springs Ranch to Pueblo High School. They move in the Swan and Broadway area and both Sandra and Walter attend ands graduated from Rincon High. The routine was live in Tucson on week days while Virgil commuted back and forth looking after the ranch and the whole family returning to the ranch on Friday night and helping with ranch work over the weekend. Dorothy got a job in Tucson at Tucson Star and Citizen in 1962 and worked her way up to Classified Supervisor. She worked there until she retired and lived in the Tucson house until her late 80's then moved to Gilbert, AZ to be close to her children. She moved back to Tucson about ten years later. She now still lives in Tucson celebrating her 100th year of life this year. A true Vail Pioneer woman, successful cattle woman, and someone that helped lead the way for the future of Vail's growth. Dorothy on her horse Hobo 1950 Dorothy 1972 Dorothy with her children Sandra and Walter at Arizona Pioneers Meeting in 2007 Article Written by Walt Johnson