DOROTHEA PEARL HOTSON 2/11/1910 ~ 2/11/2011
Dorothea Pearl Reeves was born Feb. 11, 1910 in Lebanon, S. Dakota, to Owen T. and Jessie Reeves; the first of two children. After finishing school in Hemet, CA at 16 she ran a one-room schoolhouse out in the desert nearby; teaching children in all the grades. She met James Hamilton (Hammy) Hotson around then. They were married July 20, 1930 at 19 & 20 because, as she said: "When you want to get married, you really want to get married!". Hammy went into the Army during WWII, then went to work at the Riverside Cement Co; finishing his career as the plant supervisor. He had a cute house built for them in Riverside, & this is where Dorothea lived until 1994. Unable to have children, her greatest love after Hammy was of roses and irises. She and Hammy were founding members (and officers) of the Riverside Rose Society. Hammy died suddenly of a heart attack in 1961; just a few years after her father had as well (in a car crash). Only a year earlier (after recovering from the same crash); her mother died too - of cancer while living with her at home. She became reclusive thereafter, & lived estranged from her family and most everyone else until 1991. During this time she ran a clothing store, and worked as a girl-Friday until her retirement in 1976. Becoming increasingly isolated, she lived on her Social security income. She was still able to manage her own home, do her own taxes, & operate two rental properties -- as well as grow oranges out in Highgrove where she owned 4 acres. Due to circumstances beyond her control she entered into residence at a skilled facility in Hemet in 1994, where her spirited personality earned her many fans. She enlivened the Alzheimer's ward there with quips like: "You just wish you were like us happy people who forget everything! She still liked her privacy though, such as she could keep it. Most memorably, she chased a young Court Investigator 1/4 mile throughout the corridors of the building (with her gown flapping at the back) and out into the parking lot; where the poor young lady took refuge in her car. All the while, she screamed: "Get out, go away, get away from me!!" After she had regained her ladylike composure, she was asked why. "I just don't like people with clipboards," she replied. When the need finally arose for her to use a wheelchair, she demurred when presented with the first one--which had red upholstery. "Only harlots ride in the red wheelchairs" was all she'd say, then selected one in baby blue. Dorothea mellowed with age, and was quite the social butterfly the last years of her life while residing at Alyce Vollmer's great board-and-care in Sun City; then lastly at Eben Haven in Menifee -- where she was very well taken care of. On her 101st birthday this past February 11, 2011 she enjoyed a party with chocolate cake and classic Coke; then turned in early -- never to awaken.
A private graveside ceremony, with bagpipes, was held at Olivewood Cemetery Feb. 18, 2011.
She is survived by her sister Olive Jean Clarke, her nephew (and conservator) John Gregory Clarke, and also her niece Carole Lynne Clarke.
Published in Press-Enterprise on February 27, 2011
Dorothea Pearl Reeves was born Feb. 11, 1910 in Lebanon, S. Dakota, to Owen T. and Jessie Reeves; the first of two children. After finishing school in Hemet, CA at 16 she ran a one-room schoolhouse out in the desert nearby; teaching children in all the grades. She met James Hamilton (Hammy) Hotson around then. They were married July 20, 1930 at 19 & 20 because, as she said: "When you want to get married, you really want to get married!". Hammy went into the Army during WWII, then went to work at the Riverside Cement Co; finishing his career as the plant supervisor. He had a cute house built for them in Riverside, & this is where Dorothea lived until 1994. Unable to have children, her greatest love after Hammy was of roses and irises. She and Hammy were founding members (and officers) of the Riverside Rose Society. Hammy died suddenly of a heart attack in 1961; just a few years after her father had as well (in a car crash). Only a year earlier (after recovering from the same crash); her mother died too - of cancer while living with her at home. She became reclusive thereafter, & lived estranged from her family and most everyone else until 1991. During this time she ran a clothing store, and worked as a girl-Friday until her retirement in 1976. Becoming increasingly isolated, she lived on her Social security income. She was still able to manage her own home, do her own taxes, & operate two rental properties -- as well as grow oranges out in Highgrove where she owned 4 acres. Due to circumstances beyond her control she entered into residence at a skilled facility in Hemet in 1994, where her spirited personality earned her many fans. She enlivened the Alzheimer's ward there with quips like: "You just wish you were like us happy people who forget everything! She still liked her privacy though, such as she could keep it. Most memorably, she chased a young Court Investigator 1/4 mile throughout the corridors of the building (with her gown flapping at the back) and out into the parking lot; where the poor young lady took refuge in her car. All the while, she screamed: "Get out, go away, get away from me!!" After she had regained her ladylike composure, she was asked why. "I just don't like people with clipboards," she replied. When the need finally arose for her to use a wheelchair, she demurred when presented with the first one--which had red upholstery. "Only harlots ride in the red wheelchairs" was all she'd say, then selected one in baby blue. Dorothea mellowed with age, and was quite the social butterfly the last years of her life while residing at Alyce Vollmer's great board-and-care in Sun City; then lastly at Eben Haven in Menifee -- where she was very well taken care of. On her 101st birthday this past February 11, 2011 she enjoyed a party with chocolate cake and classic Coke; then turned in early -- never to awaken.
A private graveside ceremony, with bagpipes, was held at Olivewood Cemetery Feb. 18, 2011.
She is survived by her sister Olive Jean Clarke, her nephew (and conservator) John Gregory Clarke, and also her niece Carole Lynne Clarke.
Published in Press-Enterprise on February 27, 2011
DOROTHEA PEARL HOTSON 2/11/1910 ~ 2/11/2011
Dorothea Pearl Reeves was born Feb. 11, 1910 in Lebanon, S. Dakota, to Owen T. and Jessie Reeves; the first of two children. After finishing school in Hemet, CA at 16 she ran a one-room schoolhouse out in the desert nearby; teaching children in all the grades. She met James Hamilton (Hammy) Hotson around then. They were married July 20, 1930 at 19 & 20 because, as she said: "When you want to get married, you really want to get married!". Hammy went into the Army during WWII, then went to work at the Riverside Cement Co; finishing his career as the plant supervisor. He had a cute house built for them in Riverside, & this is where Dorothea lived until 1994. Unable to have children, her greatest love after Hammy was of roses and irises. She and Hammy were founding members (and officers) of the Riverside Rose Society. Hammy died suddenly of a heart attack in 1961; just a few years after her father had as well (in a car crash). Only a year earlier (after recovering from the same crash); her mother died too - of cancer while living with her at home. She became reclusive thereafter, & lived estranged from her family and most everyone else until 1991. During this time she ran a clothing store, and worked as a girl-Friday until her retirement in 1976. Becoming increasingly isolated, she lived on her Social security income. She was still able to manage her own home, do her own taxes, & operate two rental properties -- as well as grow oranges out in Highgrove where she owned 4 acres. Due to circumstances beyond her control she entered into residence at a skilled facility in Hemet in 1994, where her spirited personality earned her many fans. She enlivened the Alzheimer's ward there with quips like: "You just wish you were like us happy people who forget everything! She still liked her privacy though, such as she could keep it. Most memorably, she chased a young Court Investigator 1/4 mile throughout the corridors of the building (with her gown flapping at the back) and out into the parking lot; where the poor young lady took refuge in her car. All the while, she screamed: "Get out, go away, get away from me!!" After she had regained her ladylike composure, she was asked why. "I just don't like people with clipboards," she replied. When the need finally arose for her to use a wheelchair, she demurred when presented with the first one--which had red upholstery. "Only harlots ride in the red wheelchairs" was all she'd say, then selected one in baby blue. Dorothea mellowed with age, and was quite the social butterfly the last years of her life while residing at Alyce Vollmer's great board-and-care in Sun City; then lastly at Eben Haven in Menifee -- where she was very well taken care of. On her 101st birthday this past February 11, 2011 she enjoyed a party with chocolate cake and classic Coke; then turned in early -- never to awaken.
A private graveside ceremony, with bagpipes, was held at Olivewood Cemetery Feb. 18, 2011.
She is survived by her sister Olive Jean Clarke, her nephew (and conservator) John Gregory Clarke, and also her niece Carole Lynne Clarke.
Published in Press-Enterprise on February 27, 2011
Dorothea Pearl Reeves was born Feb. 11, 1910 in Lebanon, S. Dakota, to Owen T. and Jessie Reeves; the first of two children. After finishing school in Hemet, CA at 16 she ran a one-room schoolhouse out in the desert nearby; teaching children in all the grades. She met James Hamilton (Hammy) Hotson around then. They were married July 20, 1930 at 19 & 20 because, as she said: "When you want to get married, you really want to get married!". Hammy went into the Army during WWII, then went to work at the Riverside Cement Co; finishing his career as the plant supervisor. He had a cute house built for them in Riverside, & this is where Dorothea lived until 1994. Unable to have children, her greatest love after Hammy was of roses and irises. She and Hammy were founding members (and officers) of the Riverside Rose Society. Hammy died suddenly of a heart attack in 1961; just a few years after her father had as well (in a car crash). Only a year earlier (after recovering from the same crash); her mother died too - of cancer while living with her at home. She became reclusive thereafter, & lived estranged from her family and most everyone else until 1991. During this time she ran a clothing store, and worked as a girl-Friday until her retirement in 1976. Becoming increasingly isolated, she lived on her Social security income. She was still able to manage her own home, do her own taxes, & operate two rental properties -- as well as grow oranges out in Highgrove where she owned 4 acres. Due to circumstances beyond her control she entered into residence at a skilled facility in Hemet in 1994, where her spirited personality earned her many fans. She enlivened the Alzheimer's ward there with quips like: "You just wish you were like us happy people who forget everything! She still liked her privacy though, such as she could keep it. Most memorably, she chased a young Court Investigator 1/4 mile throughout the corridors of the building (with her gown flapping at the back) and out into the parking lot; where the poor young lady took refuge in her car. All the while, she screamed: "Get out, go away, get away from me!!" After she had regained her ladylike composure, she was asked why. "I just don't like people with clipboards," she replied. When the need finally arose for her to use a wheelchair, she demurred when presented with the first one--which had red upholstery. "Only harlots ride in the red wheelchairs" was all she'd say, then selected one in baby blue. Dorothea mellowed with age, and was quite the social butterfly the last years of her life while residing at Alyce Vollmer's great board-and-care in Sun City; then lastly at Eben Haven in Menifee -- where she was very well taken care of. On her 101st birthday this past February 11, 2011 she enjoyed a party with chocolate cake and classic Coke; then turned in early -- never to awaken.
A private graveside ceremony, with bagpipes, was held at Olivewood Cemetery Feb. 18, 2011.
She is survived by her sister Olive Jean Clarke, her nephew (and conservator) John Gregory Clarke, and also her niece Carole Lynne Clarke.
Published in Press-Enterprise on February 27, 2011
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