Fond memories of Dees family

I read with interest in the Sept. 3 Yuma Sun of the Dees family reunion. It brought back memories of the past.

Rufus Dees came to the North Gila Valley - and the family became part of our community. Rufus patented his land in 1929. The Ferguson-Ramsey- Townsend’s grandmother and uncle had patented theirs in 1926. My grandfather - David Z. Hinshaw - patented his in 1932.

There was opposition about where the Dees children would go to school. Most of our valley was very upset about it for they saw no sense in it. Well, Clara had Mrs. Temple come live with her so the children would have a good teacher.

There was a baby whose mother did not have milk enough to feed and so the baby was doing very poorly. Well, Mrs. Dees also had a new baby, so she shared her milk with the other baby.

Even after they moved to the "Island," our families were friends. In 1956 when my father-in-law - Gene Townsend - was ill, Alex Dees’ father John would call to check on him. One day we had cattle to ship and also had to air-evac Gene to a hospital in San Diego. John called and said that he and the boys would be over in the morning to help Ted with the shipping.

These are the memories that ran through my head as I read the Yuma Sun. And these are my memories of a very, very caring, gentle, sharing Dees family that I have known for many generations.

Velma Wright Townsend

Yuma