Dora Dawes

Dora Dawes, 84, passed away May 21, 2007, in Payson, AZ. She was a 40-year resident of Payson.

Born July 21, 1922, in Douglas, AZ, to Oscar and Mary Hudman Burns, Mrs. Dawes spent her early years in Phoenix, graduating from Phoenix Union High School in 1940.

She lived in Fallbrook, CA, for 20 years, working at Bank of America and then in civil service on Camp Pendleton for 15 years. She then moved to Payson in 1968, where she was employed by the Gila County court system and eventually became the first woman dispatcher for the Sheriff’s Department. She later worked at the court as chief clerk and small claims hearing officer for judges Florence Greer, Howard Childers and Ezra Peace, officially retiring after having served as the first judge on the Tonto Apache Reservation.

Mrs. Dawes is survived by sister Mary Lange, Payson; daughters Barbara Arboneaux, Fallbrook, and Darlene Mayes, Salt Lake City, UT; son William Dawes, Sr., Payson; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.