Dolores Hotchkiss

Dolores' life in the early- and mid-parts of the century in rural, agrarian Oklahoma meant that many skills were needed to make a home. She carried these skills from her childhood into a vital old age, and loved to sew, knit, bake, make pickles, and put up jams and jellies. Her canned Tomatoes were legendary and her generous spirit led her to share not only the beautiful and delicious gifts these skills created, but to eagerly pass along the knowledge that was her heritage from her mother and mothers-in-law so others could know the pleasure of creating and sharing them as well.

Dolores is survived by her husband, Dr. Ron Hotchkiss, with whom she built a strong and deeply loving marriage and a welcoming home for 52 years. Also left in sadness at her passing are her younger brother, LD Honeycutt (Gloria) of Oro Valley, Arizona, daughter, Elaine Ray Isenberg (Michael) of Marysville, Washington, son Zane Adams (Melissa) of Cartersville Georgia, and son and Elaine's twin, Rick, of Renton, Washington. Dolores dearly loved her many grandchildren and spent hours on Facebook keeping up with news and photos of them: Kelly Fleek, Rob Negrin, Aaron Adams, Zachary Adams, Matthew Adams, and Benjamin Adams, as well as seven great-grandchildren: Samera Fleek, Marlo Fleek, Mackenzie Adams, Ty Adams, Dane Perez, and the newest and littlest, Krieger, son of Zach and Brooke, and Blaine, son of Matthew and Ashleigh. Her many nephews and nieces – both through birth and marriage – reside in states throughout the West and Midwest and knew her love for them and her heartfelt interest in their lives.

The spirit and strength with which Dolores lived her life – especially in her later years as infirmities, illness, and constant pain slowed her – were a lesson in will and perseverance and just plain stubbornness. She was not finished with all she wanted to do when her God freed her from this Earth, but she left all who knew her the gifts of her love and the strength of her character – and a LOT of her wonderful Sweet Pickles and Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam.

Her greatest gift was her love for, and enduring attachment to, her family that overcame the time and distances that eventually separate us all. It gave her a sense of belonging and rootedness that was deeply important to her and that extended back through the generations as she studied our genealogy. She was a loving and supportive mother to her children, the devoted wife to her dear husband, Ron, and she built friendships that lasted a lifetime.


And all of us who love her and miss her so are so very saddened by her loss.