Dolores Webster

Our strong, independent, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother, Dolores DeMille Webster passed away Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the age of 94.

Dolores was born in Cedar City, Utah on December 6, 1929, to Leland DeMille and Erma Webster. She was the oldest sister of Yvonne (Toni) DeMille Hunter, Dale DeMille and Terry DeMille. In her early years, Dolores was a dedicated care giver to her beloved grandfather Ern Webster. Ern and his youngest son Lou Webster owned the Webster Coal Company and mine located in Cedar Canyon. One of her fondest early memories was riding on the fender of the coal trucks with her sister Toni, as they brought coal down the canyon to Cedar City.

She was a student at Cedar High School and graduated in 1948. She met the love of her life and future husband, Daniel Garth Webster. Garth had recently returned from his deployment as a machine gunner in the Pacific theater during World War II. They were married in Cedar City and later solemnized in the St. George Temple. Garth preceded her in death in 2001.

The young couple welcomed their first child, Daniel “Danny” L. Webster in 1949. Danny married Brenda Baldwin (Sandy Webster) in 1971 parents of Natalie (James) Henselen, Nathan (Valyn) Webster and Nicole (Dan) Huntsman. Danny preceded Dolores in death in 2012. Their second son, Kenneth D Webster was born in 1950. Ken married Terri Anderson in 1972 parents of Mac (John Marovich), Kim (Sam) Flemetakis and Brett (Beranda). They completed their family with the birth of their third son, Robert D. Webster in 1957. Robert married Jana Davis in 1977 parents of Chase, Kristin (Chris) Weaver, Sean (Audrey Warrick), and Corey. Robert preceded Dolores in death in 2004. Dolores reveled in her 10 grandkids, 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter. Ken and Robert’s kids knew Dolores as Grandma “Woofers” because Mac couldn’t say “Webster” as a young kid. Danny’s kids knew her as Grandma “Patches” aptly named after her beloved calico cat.

Garth worked for US Steel and later Utah International in Cedar City. During that time, Garth and Dolores built their home and raised their young family. Garth and Dolores loved swing dancing at the Starlight Dance Pavilion in Anderson Junction. They took frequent family trips to Mirror Lake and Duck Creek to camp and fish, watched the Glen Canyon Damn being built in Page, Arizona and traveled to Disneyland. Taking their campers with Brian and Louis Turner they travelled to Mexico, Canada, and points in-between.

In 1972, Garth and Dolores built their family cabin near Navajo Lake. The cabin quickly became Dolores’ favorite place. She loved being there in the summer and walking the nearby trials as much as she loved taking snow machines into the cabin in the depths of winter. Dolores waited with great anticipation for the earliest moments when she could open the cabin for the season. She was always up early to build a “smudge” in her cast iron cook stove (courtesy of Grandma D), relax on the deck, haul wood, hunt for pine knots full of pitch, and make sure her squirrel and bird friends were properly fed. To spend time with Dolores at her cabin was to see her at her most relaxed, connected, and happiest.

Garth and Dolores loved Christmas and showered their boys with mountains of gifts and established a family tradition that continues to this day. Dolores was a cook of great renown and her holiday turkeys, sage dressing, garlic dip, brown butter cookies, greasy tacos, and pot roasts were her most consistent and cherished expressions of the profound love she had for her family. Those of us who survive her will always strive to recreate those delicious meals and treats as we pass her traditions to our children and loved ones.

Garth and Dolores were transferred to Farmington, New Mexico where Garth worked as a blasting engineer at the Navajo Mine. They shared their New Mexico journey with their dear friends, Harris and Nadine Nelson.
Dolores and Nadine were avid members of their local bowling league. Dolores would host her grandchildren every summer for a week-long celebration of movies, camping in the back yard, shopping at the mall, and watching the hot air balloons.

When they were able to return to Cedar City, Dolores rushed back to her favorite pastimes of gardening, growing basil, and working every day. Dolores was a dedicated member of the Eight Ward’s Compassionate Service group.
She loved to make quilts for her newborn grandkids and as part of relief society projects. Dolores always looked forward to the times she spent with her nieces and nephews and spoke often of the love they showed her with their frequent calls, visits, and lunch outings. Dolores loved spending time with them and was honored by the connections they kept with her, especially as she became the last living member of the family from that generation.

Dolores was a dynamo, waking up every morning, donning her apron and going to work. She worked every day of her life and made sure to take at least one trip up and down her basement stairs daily. At 94 years old, she maintained her independence with grit and grace until her final moments. While we are profoundly sad to lose her, we are overjoyed with the amount of time we got to spend with her in good health. We are thrilled for her that she was welcomed with open arms by her long-departed husband, sons, siblings, family, and friends. She lived her life as an exceptional example of devotion to family, that we can all hope to emulate.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on March 7th at Southern Utah Mortuary. Interment will be in the Cedar City cemetery following the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences may be left at www.mortuary.org.