Dolores Lee (Valverde) Mitchell of Copperopolis, CA fondly known as Dorrie was received into Heaven by our Loving Heavenly Father’s arms on March 12, 2024 at the Community Hospice House in Hughson, CA.
Dorrie was a loving Mother, Grandmother and Best Friend to her family. She had a heart of gold and a smile that could light up the room and all those around her. She was adored by her daughters and will be dearly missed by all that knew her.
She was born on August 7, 1934 the second daughter of Harold and Grace Valverde in Sonora, CA, where she attended both Sonora Grammar School and High School. She graduated from Sonora High in June of 1952. Soon after she married the love of her life Ken Mitchell in April of 1955. In 1956 the couple would welcome their first child Millie while living in Vallecito for a short time, they would later move to Altaville where they would welcome two more children Mark in 1962 and Marcia in 1965.
Dorrie worked for the Bank of America for a few years after she graduated high school and during the first few years of her marriage. Later, as her family grew she would become a stay at home mom and devote her time to raising their three children. She was a Cub Scout Leader and a long time member and _past President of the Sonora Emblem Club. She dearly loved her life with Ken as a Cattlemen’s wife, she helped with the bookkeeping and prepared many meals for the cowboys throughout the years.
She cherished her three grandchildren who she helped care for on many occasions while their parents worked. She shuttled them to and from school and many sporting events and was always their biggest cheerleader. They were her truest love.
Her other true love was their family cabin in Kennedy Meadows. This was where her heart was happiest, and nothing was more dear to her than spending a bright summer day next to the river with her family and visiting friends. She loved hearing and sharing stories after a great meal, while sitting around a warm camp fire in the evenings surrounded by family and friends.
She is survived by her daughter Millie Krause (Ken Krause) of Oakdale, her son Mark Mitchell
(Jennifer Mitchell) of Florida and daughter Marcia Whittle (Tom Whittle) of Copperopolis. She is also survived by her three grandsons; Seth Mitchell, Blake Mitchell and Winter Whittle. Two nieces, a great niece and a great nephew.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life Kenneth Mitchell in 2020 and by her Father Harold Valverde in 1985, mother Grace Valverde in 2001, sister Geraldine Adams in 2020, nephew Rob Adams in 2020 and nephew Rick Adams in 2021.
A private graveside service will be held at Mountain Shadow Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon @ 12:30pm with family and friends at Teleli Golf Club at 17566 Lime Kiln Rd Sonora CA 95370 In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the following; Community Hospice & Health Services, 2201 Euclid Ave Hughson, CA 95326 or Phone (209) 578-6300 or (website) hospiceheart.org or Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Ave. ,17th Floor ,Chicago, IL 60601 {check by mail), 1(800) 272-3900 (by Phone), alz.org (by website).