Peggy Sue Dawson
Burial Details
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 3D - February 2, 2020
Peggy Sue Dawson was
born July 31, 1956 in Denver,
Colorado, to Myra Blake
Dawson. Her special needs
resulted in placement at the
Ridge Regional Center around
the age of two. Peggy’s long-time
boyfriend, Richard “Richie”
Zamora, was also placed at the
Center when he was two and
one half years old. This was the
beginning of an incredible friendship for life.
The Roger’s family chose Peggy to live in their foster home when
she was three and six, but recognized Peggy still needed skilled
care and she was returned to the Regional Center. The family
moved to Fruita in 1975 and re-established contact with Peggy once
they learned she was living at the Grand Junction Regional Center;
Richie also moved to the GJRC. Peggy enjoyed being in contact
with foster sisters, Lynda Anthony (Grand Junction) and Janet
Osbun (Hayden). Peggy’s foster mother, Peggy Rogers, passed away
in 1999.
Richie and Peggy’s journey took them to the San Juan Living
Center in Montrose when they were in their thirties. The couple and
a few of their friends were eventually transferred into a group home
supervised by Mesa Developmental Services in 1988, where Anita
Pisciotta headed an incredible team to include, Connie, Stephenie,
Joan, Bill Graham, Sherry Price, Kristi, nurses Joanie and Cheri,
MaryBeth and Lynn; case managers Annette, Joe and Tom, etc.
Everyone knew they were doing their job when Peggy would yell,
“I’m going to tell Joan Levy on you!”
Peggy was blessed with Dr. Mercedes Cameron and Dr. Ivan
Alkes who worked with MDS direct care staff, Kenda Davis, Juanita
Trujillo, Theresa Carter-Lucero, Ron Sorenson and Diana Weyland,
to work toward minimal medications for Peggy and others. This
effort greatly increased the quality of their lives! Before long, Peggy,
Richie, and others traveled the pathway of gaining independence
when MDS purchased the initial group apartments. The next great
move provided the opportunity to move into Host Homes. Juanita
and Richie were the first to blaze this trail, followed by Kenda and
Peggy, Theresa and Sandy, Diana and Ruby, and Ron and Danny. In
2009, Annette initiated guardianship for Peggy with Juanita. It was
incredible to see Peggy, Richie and others walking independently
in the community and enjoying what their hearts desired.
Peggy bloomed into an incredible artist and received recognition
for a Christmas card she creatively crafted. She enjoyed working
on hook rugs, knitting, crocheting and going out with Joanie
and Cheri. Bill and Kenda provided support throughout Peggy’s
lifetime. Kenda and husband, Jim, along with family members,
Nick, Rachel, Ailene, Bob and Sandy embraced Peggy as family,
as did Deb Horton and Juanita’s family, whose parents thought of
Peggy as their daughter. Peggy enjoyed going out for a meal, a good
ole fashion cup of coffee or shopping with her friends. She enjoyed
listening to country music; her favorites being Patsy Cline, Johnny
Cash, and Elvis.
Peggy enjoyed her medical team that included Dr. Glenn Madrid;
PA, Jamie Kopfman; nurses, Becky and Faith and Dr. Joel Dean
(whom she forever relished the fact that she would never forget his
date-of-birth). Her final homes were the MDS Cattails and Victoria
group homes, with case manager Chris, Candace, Lena, Atheena,
Sunny, Lanessa, Kaitelyn, Celeste, Mary “Frankie” and Maria,
along with The Arc advocates in Keith Larsen and Jennifer Shook.
As the saying goes, “It takes a village,” and Peggy was loved by
many.
Burial will take place Saturday, February 8, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.
at the Orchard Mesa Cemetery. A celebration of life luncheon will
follow at 12:00 p.m. at the old Riverside Elementary School, 552B
W. Main Street in Grand Junction. Please contact Juanita at juanita.
trujillo@mesacouty.us for more details.
