Dorothy Juanita Collins-Wilson was born on 12-15-1921 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Essie Slayton Barnhill-Collins and Leslie Melvin Collins. Leslie and Essie had a total of four children together before Essie died in 1929 from Tuberculosis. Leslie later remarried Audrey Mae Merrimen and they had five additional children together. Dorothy’s eight siblings included: Charles Leslie, Clifford Calvin, Maxine “Mug” Evon, Lester “Les” Ray, William “Bill” Carl, Betty Jo, Ronald “Ronnie” Lee, and Jack Dee. Dorothy is survived by four of these siblings: Les, Betty, Ronnie, and Clifford. All of the other siblings have preceded her in death.
Other family members have also preceded Dorothy in death. This includes: her husband: Charles “Nat” Nathaniel Wilson; her daughter: Shirley Mae Wilson-Bairos; her son-in-law: Edward “Ed” Bairos (previously married to Dorothy’s daughter, Shirley Mae); her son-in law: Edward “Ed” Armstrong (married to Dorothy’s daughter, Natalie Evon); her son-in-law: Randy Stewart (previously married to Dorothy’s daughter, Ruth Ann); and her grandson-in-law: Efrain Salazar (previously married to Dorothy’s granddaughter, Darla Renee).
Dorothy has been survived by a great deal of her loving family members. This includes two of her daughters: Natalie Evon Wilson-Armstrong and Ruth Ann Wilson-Charnin as well as her son-in-law, Robin Charnin. Dorothy has also been survived by eight grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and eight and 8/9ths great-great grandchildren. Her eight grandchildren and their spouses include: Eddie and Laurie Bairos, Jan Bairos-Wright and Rick Barstow, John Robert and April Bairos, Lee Ann Bairos-Weston, Jeri-Lynn Bairos-George and Mike George, Kimberly Dawn Armstrong-Ewing and David Ewing, Robyn Figeroa-Reichle and Robert Charles Reichle, and Darla Renee Reichle. Dorothy’s nineteen great-grandchildren and their spouses include: Courtney Bairos-Moles and Doug Moles, Kherstein Kahan, David and Corina Bairos, Kathryn Bairos-Fontes and John Fontes, Nicole Bairos- Pederson and Brison Pederson, Jon “Jon-Jon” Ellis and Priscilla Sanchez, Russell Weston and Jacquie Vargas, Christopher George, Shannon George-Vizcarra and Raul Vizcarra, Kelly George, Alexander “Alex” Ewing, Kelsey Christine Ewing, Brennon Scott Reichle, Brooke Reichle, Paige Reichle, Cameryn Reichle, Marc Reichle-Salazar, and Erica Nicole Reichle-Salazar. Dorothy’s eight and 8/9ths great-great grandchildren include: Madison Moles, Dhillon Moles, Jonathan Bairos, Jordan Bairos, Kennedy Fontes, Adella Weston, Audrey Ellis, Eli Sanchez, and Peyton Pederson (expected date of birth is November 2013).
Dorothy worked as a homemaker for most her married life. However, when her husband “Nat” passed away in 1974, Dorothy joined the workforce serving in various vocational positions. These included: being a Job Developer and Counselor for the Displaced Homemakers Program in Fresno, CA, working as a Teacher’s Aide at Jefferson Elementary School in Clovis, CA, working as Senior Aide for both Clovis Convalescent Hospital and the Clovis Senior Center, working as a Job Developer with the Older
Americans Program in Fresno, CA, and working as a Sales Representative for Scott’s Seed at Orchard’s Supply Hardware Store in Clovis, CA. During this time period, Dorothy also returned to night school and earned her Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) from Clovis Unified School District. This accomplishment was of extreme importance to Dorothy because she placed a high value on education.
When Dorothy’s daughters were younger, she served as an Assistant Girl Scouts Leader and was actively involved in the PTA at her children’s schools. Dorothy was also an avid fan of baseball, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team. Before moving from Missouri to California, Dorothy attended a lot of the St. Louis Cardinals’ games with “Nat”, her siblings, and her friends. She loved camping and picnicking with her friends and family at various places such as: Lake Tahoe, Bass Lake, Sea Cliff, the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers, Lost Lake, and Kearney Park. Dorothy enjoyed playing such games as: Pinochle, Canasta, Dominoes, Old Maid, War, and Crocket. She loved listening to music and watching people dance. There are two things that Dorothy said she always wanted to learn to do: swim and “drive a stick shift car”.
Dorothy had many favorite foods and beverages. These included: lemon pie, lobster, fried potatoes, Chinese food, “Drumstick” ice creams, fried fish, Danishes from Eddies Pastry Shop, biscuits and gravy, Eggplant Parmigiana, Coke-Cola (NOT Pepsi), the stuffed grape leaves that Jeri Lynn makes, Ambrosia and Waldorf Salads, Vodka Collins, Kahlua, cold beer in the summertime, Orange Cappuccino Coffee, banana nut bread, Chicken Nuggets from McDonalds dipped in Ranch dressing, Blue Cheese, Carmel Macchiato coffee from Starbucks (with whip cream and only one shot of coffee), Cream of Wheat (NOT oatmeal), “little cheeseburgers” from both McDonalds and White Castle, English Toffee from See’s Candies, peanut brittle, April’s ham gravy, the grilled asparagus that Dave makes, Linguica, Portuguese Green Beans, iced tea, Cheesecake, the orange Jell-O dish that Ruth makes, coconut and banana crème pies, and anything that has been baked by Natalie, particularly cakes.
Dorothy LOVED to shop at garage sales, thrift shops, and dollar stores. Her favorite items to buy were shoes and clothes, but she loved the thrill of buying almost anything. Looking her best, wearing nice clothes with matching earrings, and having well-kept hair and nails were very important issues to Dorothy. She always stood out in a room and had a knack for making people feel welcome and at-ease. Dorothy had a dynamic personality that shined through her dark brown eyes. She had a warm, genuine and contagious smile. Dorothy frequently had a twinkle in her eyes that made her look like she was up to something. She was always quick witted, strong willed, out-going, generous, kind-hearted, determined, and a bit defiant when she wanted to be, Dorothy was usually funny, typically frank, and occasionally a bit shocking. She made many wonderful memories during her 91 + years of life. Dorothy touched the lives of a multitude of friends and family and made the world a better place just by being a part of it. Although Dorothy will always remain in our hearts and memories, she will be greatly missed by the many people who loved her.
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