Dorothy I. Francisco

Dorothy I. Francisco, 81, resident of Clarkdale, passed away at home on Saturday, April 22, 2006. She was born on March 29, 1925 to Jesse and Grace (Pickering) Pettijohn in Bonner Springs, Kansas. As a child, Dorothy moved with her family, to Detroit, Michigan. When her family relocated to a rural area 9 miles outside of Atlanta, Michigan, she remained in Detroit where she was working as a Bank Teller. Then in the summer of 1943, upon a visit to her parent\u0027s home, Dot met a friend of her brothers, who was also their neigbor; Norman Francisco. This young man would became the love of her life, they were married a year later on November 9, 1944. During World War II, while Norm was serving his country in the U.S. Navy, Dot too, supported her country and worked at the Draft Board Office in Los Angeles, California. Following his time in the service, Dot and Norm returned to Michigan where Dot had the priviledge of being a stay-at-home-mom to their three daughters. In 1955 Dot and Norm relocated to California and opened their own appliance and service business, which they named, The Home Applicance Company. While Norm worked out in the field, Dot worked in the store. They were proud business owners for twenty years and had received special recognition from the Maytag Company. Upon selling their business and taking their retirement, they decided to build a home near Clear Lake, California. But in 1986, Michigan seemed to again call them home; they spent another 10 years there together. It was in 1996 they decided to make one more move. They wanted to be in a place where the seasons, especially winters, were more mild. They moved to Arizona and made Clarkdale their final home. Dot was an adored wife and she was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is preceded in death by her parents and her twin daughters. Dorothy leaves behind her sweetheart, friend and husband of 61 years, Norman Francisco of Clarkdale, Arizona; her daughter, Sheri Francisco of Cottonwood, Arizona; her granddaughter, Dawna Webster and her husband, Preston of Clovis, California and three great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 1:00pm at Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 E. Mingus Ave., in Cottonwood. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com