Delores was born on June 7, 1934 and died on January 25, 2005.

I remember sitting on the porch at my aunt and uncle’s farmhouse, listening to my Aunt Dee playing the guitar and telling stories. When I was very little, I thought she made up all the songs she sang for us. I remember being very surprised to learn that she didn’t write “You Are My Sunshine”

Aunt Dee and Aunt Genny, who shared a June 7th birthday. Aunt Genny was born two years earlier.

Aunt Dee also used to tell stories sitting on that porch. The stories early in the evening were for all ages, and then the little kids would go inside and she would tell scary tales. It was a big deal when you were old enough to stay up with the big kids.

Dee and Elizabeth, Thanksgiving 1980.

After we moved to Iowa, Dee and her daughter would join my family for Thanksgiving. I remember one trip when Dad and I drove up to get her because there was some snow. There was almost nothing on the ground at our house, and a few miles down the road, there were a couple of inches. When we got to Dee’s, there was blowing snow and several inches on the ground.

Once, aunt Dee and I drove up to my grandmother’s to visit. It wasn’t long after I had gotten my driver’s license. We drove through a long construction zone and each bridge seemed get narrower as we went. We joked about holding our breath to help make the car skinnier to get through the last one.

Walt, I, and Dee, visiting in Iowa.

I miss her great sense of humor and warm hugs.