Dollie Deshayes
November 22, 1942 — September 20, 2015
Dollie Mae Deshayes Our Dear Wife, Mother, Sister, and Grandmother passed away September 20, 2015 at Intermountain Care Center in St. George, Utah.
Dollie was born in the Philippines on November 22, 1942 to Howard and Antonia Thomas. Her father was in the US Army stationed in the P.I. with his family This was not the best of times for her family, as shortly after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and rounded up all the caucasian families and placed them in a civilian POW camp. Dollies dad hid the fact that he was military, which probably saved his life. The family endured 3 1/2 years in captivity before being liberated in 1945.
Dollie grew up and went to school in California. She excelled in mathematics and accounting, which led her into many interesting and challenging jobs. She worked for the U.S. Army in Germany as a secretary to a Colonel.
After that, for the next twenty years, she worked at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft as a senior contracts and pricing analysis. She was the first woman analyst to achieve that position at Douglas Long Beach California. This is where she met the love of her life Arnie. Together they raised their five children; Trina Deshayes Fields, Laura Deshayes Smith, Linda Deshayes Buehler, Kurt Deshayes, and Karl Deshayes. From this family came fifteen grandchildren and at last count thirty-one great grandchildren.
Dollie has two sisters, Florence Thomas who was also in the POW camp, and Mary VonSant.
Dollie was very active in her St. George Catholic Church and was a Eucharistic Minister until her medical problems caused her to refrain from active church work.
Dollie had such a strong faith and knew without a doubt or trace of fear that she was returning to her Heavenly Father. She will be blessed in Heaven.
A Rosary will be held Friday, September 25, 2015 at 10:30am at the Catholic Church located at 259 W. 200 N., St. George, Utah. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00am.
Grave sides services will be held Monday, September 28, 2015 at 11:00am at the Tonaquint Cemetery 1770 S. Dixie Drive, St.George, Utah.