Dorothy was born on Jan. 20 1923, in Bard, Calif., the only child of William and Viola Ferguson. When she was a 2-year-old, they moved to Goodman Point where they homesteaded and farmed land. Dorothy went to Goodman Point Elementary School and boarded in Dolores to finish high school.
She met and then married Willis Willbanks in 1942. Shortly thereafter, Willis was drafted and sent to Europe where he fought in World War II. Upon his return, they started farming at Dove Creek and then on Goodman Point.
Dorothy and Willis had three children Willis William (Tad), Nancy and Rodney. Willis died in 1983; and in 1992, Dorothy moved from the family farm to her current home and supplemented her Social Security income by baking.
She was very active in her church, in Christian Women's Club and served for a number of years as an election judge.
She is survived by her children Tad and wife Becky of Dolores, Nancy and partner Debbie of Boston and Rodney and wife Regina of Dolores, six grandchildren, Keenan (Lori), Travis (Caity), Melissa (Nathan), Tyler (April), Cory and Tori and five great-grandchildren, Logan, Kale, Kamri, Landon and Kaisha.
She died at home on Sept. 16, 2013, and was buried at Goodman Point Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Montelores Baptist Church. Donations can be made to Hospice of Montezuma.
