Dee Fleming

Dee Fleming, of Taos, died March 1, 2016. Born Doris Jean Henderson in Boulder, Colorado, in 1927, Dee was the daughter of Frank S. and Erma R. Henderson. She graduated from CU, Boulder in 1949, with a degree in Home Economics, then worked for a year in Hutchinson, Kansas, demonstrating gas stoves for the gas company. Dee and John (“Jock”) Fleming, were married in Boulder on June 8, 1950. At first they lived in Denver where Dee worked for the Public Service Co. They moved to Taos for the first time early in 1951, living in an apartment behind the Taos Inn, and Dee worked as a bookkeeper for Dick Granger. She said, “I loved Taos from the day we arrived.” When Jock was drafted six months after their wedding, Dee worked in the PX and the infirmary at Camp Roberts, CA while he was in boot camp and then she returned to Denver and worked as a stenographer at Lowry Field. In 1953, when Jock returned from Korea, they moved back toTaos. In addition to Taos, Dee and Jock lived in Alamosa, CO; Penasco, NM (where Dee and Olive Bolander coordinated the first ski program for Penasco students at Sipapu and co-led a Camp Fire Girls group, and she volunteered teaching sewing as part of the Vista Volunteers program); and Williams, AZ (where she was the bookkeeper for Gardner’s Insurance). After returning to Taos for good in 1974, Dee managed the Taos Book Shop from 1975 thru 1985. She loved skiing, hiking, sewing, baking, gardening and bird watching, but she was most proud of being a homemaker. Dee volunteered at St. James Episcopal Church, helping to organize rummage sales and Christmas bazaars, and putting out the coffee between Sunday services. After Jock retired, she wrote, “Now we just enjoy living in Taos...still my favorite place.” Dee was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Frank R. Henderson, her sister Shirley Falconer, and by her beloved husband, Jock. She is survived by her children Barbara F. Quijada (Frank), John D. Fleming (Ann Bieri), and Malcolm H. Fleming (Susan Nedell); grandchildren Gabriel Quijada (Jessica) and Miguel Quijada (Maria); Andrew and Evan Fleming; Maxwell and Anne Fleming; one great grandchild, Sebastian Quijada; six nieces and six nephews. Dee’s children want to especially thank the staffs at Taos Retirement Village and Mt. Home Hospice for the loving care they provided for Dee after Jock’s passing. Memorial services for Dee will be held in late summer or early fall. Donations in her memory may be made to the St. James Food Pantry, 208 Camino de Santiago, Taos, NM 87571 or Planned Parenthood of New Mexico (505-944-2028). Memorial service was held on June 24, 2016 at St. James Episcopal Church, Taos.Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home. This obituary is protected by copyright laws, unauthorized use or duplication is prohibited.