Dolores Ann Beebe

Dee was the first of three siblings born to Clarence and Carolyn (Skov) Durant. She grew up on the family vineyard in Kerman, Ca. She graduated from Kerman High School in 1948, attended Fresno State, and graduated in 1952. She was also member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

After her first child was born, Dee decided to return to school and earn her teacher credential. Dee taught at Caruthers Elementary School and Washington Union High School. She taught home and social economics. After 25 years of teaching, she hung up her apron and started another chapter in her life.

After retiring, Dee set her sights on traveling. She took all her grandchildren on their own special "Grandma Trips". She traveled to Denmark, New York, Alaska, Mississippi. Hawaii, and Disneyland.

She made incredible quilts, oil paintings, sculptures, and pastels. She won numerous awards for all her art work at the Fresno Fair. One of her many achievements was having her own Quilt Show in her backyard. She made exclusive quilts for all her children and grandchildren to remember her by.

She was known for her vivacious personality, her willingness to help anyone, love of the arts, reading, bridge, and of course her favorite color purple. What she enjoyed most was making her quilts, looking through her picture window to her beautiful garden. A colorful garden filled with roses, poppies, numerous Iris' and sculptures, some of which she picked up from her many travels.

She took the fabric pieces of life

Stitched them together for us

To hold close her memory

And to mend our broken hearts.

Dee is preceded in death by her parents; and her son, Calvin Anthony Beebe.

She is survived by her son, Jerry Beebe and his wife Carol of Georgetown, Ca; daughter-in-law, Debbie Sanderson of Bass Lake, Ca; daughter, Shanna Beebe of Fresno; son, James Beebe and his wife Yvette of Fresno; grandchildren, Aaron and Jennifer Beebe, Nichole and Collen Beebe, Melissa Beebe, Patrick and Parker Beebe; sister, Phyllis Rogers of La Habra, Ca; and brother, Ralph Durant of Fresno.

Visitation will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel, on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel, on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., with interment to immediately follow at Belmont Memorial Park.