Sexson celebrates a century
Delores Sexson’s family never imagined they would be celebrating her 100th birthday by having to wave at her through the window of her Golden Ours room.
On Saturday, Sexson will hit the century mark on the heels of surviving a bout with COVID-19 over the past several weeks.
That also means that she’s not likely going to be able to celebrate with family close by her due to the coronavirus protocols in place at Golden Ours right now.
Nonetheless, surviving Covid at the age of 100 says a lot about this lady.
Dolores Watkins Sexson was born on August 22, 1920 in Scotts City, Kansas, the youngest of seven children to Emery and Janie Broughton Watkins.
She attended rural schools in Chase and Perkins County, riding a bit horse or a Shetland pony. The Shetland pony would “dump” her quite often, but she would pick up her lunch pail (a Karo syrup pail) and her books, catch the pony and start over again.
She graduated from Perkins County High School in 1938. She signed a contract with a rural school to teach for $40.00 a month and would be paying $12.00 for room and board in a country home.
Mr. Charlie Moser, manager of J.C. Penney store offered her a bookkeeping/clerk job for $45.00 a month and she could stay home. She accepted the job and worked there for 6 years. The school did release her contract.
Driving in a blizzard to Alliance, Nebraska on New Year’s Eve in 1941 with Ruby and Don Porter as witnesses, she married Robert (Bob) Sexson.
Bob wasn’t aware of just how big of a family Dolores had when they married, which he always joked about. They settled on the “Sexson Farm” for 60 years before moving into Grant in 2001.
Their first son, Rusty, was born in 1944 followed by a daughter, Shelley, on the second Sunday of August 1949 - the day of the annual Watkins Reunion. In February of 1954 Shelley passed away. Two years later Bob and Dolores were blessed with their second son, Dan, followed by their third son, Doug, 13 months later.
Dolores started “part time” work after Dan and Doug were in the lower grades of school for Mr. Charlie Moser who was now retired from the J.C. Penney department store and had his own modern, small department store on main street in Grant.
Bob and Dolores later purchased the store from the Mosers. Dolores successfully ran “Sexson’s Department Store” for the next 22 years. She could always be seen wearing her many pairs of high heels and carrying her fashionable handbags.
It was clear to all she loved stylish clothes when she attended any type of events. Bob would always take her to the Denver Merchandise Mart to do the buying for the store.
A member of the Eastern Star for more than 75 years, Dolores held many positions in the local and state levels. She was the first woman president for the Grant Chamber.
Faith has always been an important part of her life. She was a longtime organist for the Methodist Church and she played for countless weddings and funerals. She was also an active member for many committees.
Family reunions have always been a big part of her life. They had hosted many of them on the farm as well as traveling with her siblings and their families to many throughout different states. At one reunion she climbed down to the lower level of a submarine with a torn rotator cuff after falling with tennis shoes on.
Although her six siblings have all passed away, all but one has lived to be in their 90’s or 100’s years of age. Her brother, Howard, lived past 102.
She maintained her home for 8 years after Bob passed away in 2005 and Rusty in 2006. She enjoyed living at Westview for five years before moving to Golden Ours Convalescent Home in January 2019.
She is blessed with two sons and their wives, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She always looks forward to seeing her many family members and friends to reminisce the special times they have shared.