Dolores Pheasant

Dolores Anita Pheasant On Monday, September 12, 2022, Dolores A. Pheasant, 88, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior. She was blessed to have her family beside her at home. Dolores Pheasant was born to Jesse “Lee” and Helen Jones in Okanagan, Washington. She and her two brothers, Dick and Skip Jones, lived in a cabin on the Loop Loop Highway near Winthrop, Wash. Her family then moved to Cashmere so her brother Dick could go to school at seven years old. When Dolores was ready to go into the first grade their family moved to Seattle. She also lived in Enumclaw and Kent. In the sixth grade, her daddy moved her to Tonasket when her life began with Tom. Dolores married her middle school best friend in 1954 and she lived in Spokane while Tom was in the Air Force. During this time she graduated from Whit[1]worth College and was a teacher at North Central in Spokane. After Tom finished his time in the service, Dolores and he moved to Soap Lake and began farming in the fall of 1957. They soon started a partnership with George and Jackie Pheasant and these orchards were amongst the earliest in the Basin. They continued orcharding for 63 years. Dolores was also a librarian and English teacher in the Ephrata school district for 10 years, mainly working with the seventh grade. Dolores was a longtime, loyal member of the Ephrata United Methodist Church. She sang in the church choir, was a lay leader, taught and was a chairman of Sunday schools, the council chair, missions chair, was United Methodist Women’s President, and she was instrumental in the Friendship Force. She led many vacation bible school events. Dolores went on five mission trips with her church family. With the idea and help from daughter-in-law Carla Pheasant, she started the maternity closet for under-resourced moms. More recently, she enjoyed attending the Community Church of Ephrata with her family. Dolores was president and very active in AAUW (American Association of University Women). She was also active in her PEO group as president and other officers’ positions. She was a member of Kiwanis, and was Kiwanian of the Year in 2004. She was on the board of the Columbia Basin Community Schools which provided different classes for older people such as pine needle basket making and macramé. She was involved with the AFS (American Field Service) foreign exchange program and was the area representative when her family hosted Sigrun Veit from Germany. She and Tom were involved in the first water management groups in Grant County along with the Diversion Committee. She was a leader in the Camp Fire Girls for many troops. She and her husband Tom loved to travel and went to over 50 countries together. They went by planes, trains, automobiles, ships, riverboats and rickshaws! They laughed through many adventures and she promoted the love of travel to her children and grandchildren by taking the family on many little vacations for her birthday and themed picnic parties. This organization of educational events and promoting knowledge of other countries is what she is known for. The family wants to acknowledge and give thanks to all the caregivers who spent countless hours providing care for her as she lived out her days at the orchard in her granny pad. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas R. Pheasant; her parents, Lee and Helen Jones; her brother Dick and sister-in-law JoEllen Jones; and son-in-law Rick Grubb. Dolores is survived by her brother Skip Jones; her four children – Darryl Pheasant, Darla (Rick d.) Grubb, Jenni (Louis) Bunkelman and Jeff (Carla) Pheasant. She made many memories with her 13 grandchildren – Justin (Liz) Grubb, Chris (Caitlyn) Wash, Jennifer L. (Charlie) Pritchett, Jared (Emilie) Grubb, Jared (Kelsey) Wash, Nathan (Emili) Wash, Walker Maddalozzo, Thomas Pheasant, Allison Pheasant, Sarah Pheasant, Riley Pheasant, Conner Maddalozzo and Megan Pheasant. She loved and spent time with her great grandkids – Audrey Grubb (d.), Aubrey Nearing, Zoie Grubb, Kolby Nearing, Richard Grubb, Brynlee Wash, Everly Wash, Brooklyn Wash, Jaxson Wash. If desired, memorials may be made to her P.E.O. group (scholarships for further education of girls and women), “Tunnels for Towers” or to your local Food Bank. Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.nicolesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata, Wash. Services will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the Community Church of Ephrata, 54 K Street SE. There will be a lunch provided after the worship service

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Dolores Pheasant

July 17, 1934 - September 12, 2022