Obituary of Mildred Dyson

Mildred Antionette Dyson, 7th child of Robert and Lucy (Becket) Smith was born October 4th, 1924 in Mt. Morrison, Colorado. She grew up on the family farm with her 3 sisters (Florence, Arlene and Margaret) and 4 brothers (Bob, Jerry, Aldo and George). At the early age of 2 years Mildred’s oldest sister Florence stepped forward to care for Mildred when their mother died. Mildred attended her elementary school years in Morrison. During this time at the age of 14 her father passed away. Following graduation from Bear Creek High she was employed by Kendrick Bellany Company in Denver. It was in Denver Mildred met and married Jess, the handsome young man from Flagler. Mildred’s older brother, Aldo was honored to give his little sister in marriage to Jess Dyson on June 28, 1949. Following their marriage at Messiah Lutheran Church in Denver and a short honeymoon they moved to Flagler. While visiting Jess’s Aunt Stella Cook, Mildred met her first new friend, Alberta Fagerland. They made many special memories together. One of those special memories among the many over the years was their memberships in the Eastern Star Organization. They shared membership in the Flagler Chapter 113 and Sterling, Colorado Chapter 68 both with having over 50 years in the organization. In their first Flagler home Jess and Mildred continued to add more new friends to the existing ones when new school teachers or student teachers occupied the spare bedroom, with Dick Hollenbaugh to be the first of several. Several nieces and nephews came to spend summer school vacations with Mildred. Children of friends or family were always welcome to spend time with Mildred. She enjoyed sharing with them how to feed the baby lambs, dress out frying chickens for the freezer, planting a garden and canning fruit. In June of 1954 Mildred and Jess were blessed with their daughter Cindy. Cindy was soon to help her parents welcome the addition to the family with little brother Bob’s birth in 1956. Mildred continued to have much happiness in her life as the many activities of Cindy and Bob required more of her time. She was always ready to help in any of their activities. After a move to the second home with a Flagler address Mildred would now add more duties to her busy schedule. In addition to wife, mother, and housekeeping she was now a rancher on the Crystal Springs Ranch along with Jess. She was a hard worker never backing away from any chores required on a ranch or farm. It was during this time she and Jess were living on the Crystal Springs Ranch they decided to become foster parents. Mildred and Jess were proud to welcome the following children to call them Mom and Dad; Henry Cummings, Barbara Winston, Herbert Jenkins, Jim Jenkins, Tonya Clark, Jimmie Stewart, Scott Winslow and Beverly Heberlein. There were many new born babies that also were loved and cared for by Mildred for several months until the new adoptive parents received them. It became more difficult to part with each one. They decided to direct their love and time to now grown foster children, Cindy and Bob’s classmates and friends. Not only children’s need were concern for Mildred but those of the older senior friends and family Mildred was always willing to help with care for friends and family. Mildred’s love for her sister Florence who raised her was shown when Florence was welcomed by Mildred and Jess’s to live with them. Also welcomed to Mildred’s home was foreign exchange student, Nancy from Australia. The current and 3rd home in Flagler continued to be one where Mildred filled it with love as she did the previous two. Most of her foster children shared this home. With the encouragement of both Mildred and Jess, Cindy’s son Shannon came to Flagler to live with them and attend school in Flagler. Mildred was most happy when she was attending any activity Shannon was participating in. Also when Shannon would bring his friends out to the farm she would enjoy sharing any of her baked goods. It was special times like this Mildred found out she wasn’t just Shannon’s grandmother but theirs too. The practice of loving and spoiling her grandson also was extended to neighbor and friends children as well. One of Mildred’s hobbies was cake decorating. She loved to help the children decorate cookies or cupcakes. It always brightened her day when Melissa, Tiffany and Eliza Poet came to spend time at her house. From the kitchen to the barn to enjoy another love this was raising baby calves. She had a passion for calves she had to bottle feed. Again extra pleasure and fun for Mildred was when she could take a child to help feed the calves with bottles. One of these extra pleasures was taking Bill and Lillie Kellers boys; Justin and Jason to help feed the purchased calves. Mildred enjoyed sharing her love for crafts, cake decorating, gardening and raising farm animals with her two great granddaughters; Skyler and Charlee. She enjoyed her life the most whenever she was doing something with one or both. The room radiated with laughter, smiles, love and most of all showing how important they were to her. Mildred’s love for and to be with children was fulfilled for several years with driving a school bus for Flagler. These became “her kids” and she loved to bring them treats. It was a sad time in Mildred’s life when son Bobby preceded her in death in January 1982 and husband Jess in 1992. Mildred’s parents and sibling also preceded her in death. Mildred will be greatly missed by all her family and friends left to mourn her passing are daughter Cindy Hawks, grandson Shannon Hawks, great granddaughters; Skyler and Charlee Hawks, foster children; Henry Cummings, Herbert and Mary Jo Jenkins, Jill, Luke, Faye and Jim Jenkins, Jimmy and Jean Stewart and family, Barbara Corti and family, Tanya Clark, Scott Winslow and family. She also survived by sister-in-law Lois Rogers, numerous nieces, nephews and close family friends. Mildred passed away on July 3rd, 2014 in Burlington, Colorado with her family at her side.