Windy-47 I have had many adventures this year. I feel human again as my health is finally approaching my “New Normal.” It is such a relief to be able to drive, see a computer screen, and walk up the stairs without hoisting myself with both arms. I can do basic household chores, yard work, real work, and play too. Business is still doing well as I put what little energy I had into the 2 most important things: raising my family and working in the shop. I’m so glad that I made the time this summer to visit my mom in her rental house in Port Townsend, WA (a 15 hr drive). We had a perfect visit and made fond memories. In October we traveled again to PT and said a final goodbye (see back) My sister and I were blessed to be at her side for a perfect passing, just as she planned. We were at her house for 49 hours between arrival and the house ready to re-rent. GO, TEAM. On a fun note, I adopted two mini golden doodles., Westley and Charlie. They have brought lots of love and learning to my home.
L-17 This year has been chaotic. It’s my senior year so I’ve been applying to colleges and for scholarships. I also decided to take all the core concurrent enrollment classes I could so I have a lot of homework. Last spring break my mom, Cordelia, and I went to New York City and among other things saw “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Hades Town” on Broadway. After NYC we went to Baltimore from my mom’s business convention where “aunt” Rebecca joined us and took me on day trips to see her favorite memories of living there and listened to audiobooks. When we visited GranDee in July we had a lovely time with her and my PT friends took me to a K-Pop concert in Seattle. I’ve been able to hang out with my friends a little bit this year and that has really helped my mental health. I enjoyed cosplaying with my family and friends at FanX. Overall I think I’ve had a pretty okay but overwhelming year.
Cordelia-15 This year has been loads of fun. I can now drive and love it so much. My friends are cool, both old and new, and I love them. I started high school and got my first job. I love theater, as always, and am in most of the school and class plays. I have been privileged to travel the US quite a bit. I hope to travel outside the US soon. This year has been a blast!
Sky-12 It is so crazy how incredibly fast time has gone by, It still feels like 2019! It’s insane that it’s 2022 and I’m almost 13!!! My summer was crazy when traveling to summer music came in Michigan the train was late and we had to sleep overnight in the Chicago Union Station. We, “L”, Cordelia and I, ended up having a lovely time with mom’s friend Dawn, and her daughter, Willow, petting bunnies and seeing the sights in Chicago before the next train left 24 hours later. After we finally arrived at our cousin Tom’s house the camp was canceled less than 24 hours before it started due to an outbreak of COVID. So we flew home early. I did enjoy the two camps I did attend I love the memories I have of GranDee, I hope she is not forgotten, I miss her. The new puppies are so cute!
Gwendolyn-9 I am now in fourth grade and love gymnastics, math, friends, family, and new puppies as well as our two pet rats, and two cats. I finally have my own phone number!
Charle is brown and more poodle than his brother, and Westley is black and more retriever. They have brought us so much love and joy!
Happy Holidays from our family to yours.
DD Jay (aka Diane Lea Draper, DD Johnson, DeeDee Draper Jay) lived with a joyful attitude, laughing as she stumbled onto the next new adventure in her 77 years (a number that is both a palindrome and multiple of two primes). She passed peacefully, painlessly, and punctiliously in her own home in Port Townsend, Washington on October 3rd, 2022 with her two daughters holding her hands.
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Born to Ellen (Robertson) and Woodrow “Scrub” Draper on January 24th, 1945, she has brought laughter and depth to a number of lives everywhere she has lived. In Boulder, Colorado as a 5th grader, she worked in her father's restaurant (College Catering, which notably served the first pizza in Boulder) answering the phone, filling orders, and making brownies while also tending to her two younger siblings. She was always an amazing friend and remained in contact with many of her friends from Junior High, High School, CU Buffs, and beyond. In 1976 she moved to Flagstaff, Arizona where she was a middle school math teacher by day and theater extraordinaire by night. She co-founded Magic Curtain Productions (the local children’s theater). She was often found making paper mache into amazingly convincing food props or knitting on stage as an extra in Theatrikos plays. Her true love was improv and Fox Paws (Faux Pas) was the name she picked for her troupe that always had a good laugh and created dinner theaters from scratch in both Northern and Southern Arizona (Green Valley). She lived an amazing and helpful life and is well-loved by all that knew her including her children and grandchildren who are grateful for all the care she gave them. She loved to cook and cater and fed many a group of family, friends, theater groups, UUs, and film crews, often with homemade pizza.
Her community advocacy was put to good use as she was highly involved in working with Habitat for Humanity, politics, and peaceful conflict resolution as well as making sure that everyone's voice was heard through protests and rallies. After retirement, she moved to Green Valley, Arizona in 2006. She was adamant that all humans have the right to live safely without prejudice and hate. She has donated her body to science as she continues to give even in her death.
She is survived by the two children she raised, Emily Johnson James (Rod), and their two children Tyler and Kelsey. Windy (Johnson, Shaffer) Jay and her four children, Elnorra “L”, Cordelia, Adelaide “Sky” and Gwendolyn, and the beloved child she adopted away in 1965, Dan Cortes (Karen) and his four children Veronica “Roni”, Nate, Zane, and Zoe as well as the father of her children and good friend, her ex-husband Ken Johnson (Lorie), her brother Dennis Draper and sisters Alfred McElwain (Marty) and Dixie Llewellin (Dave).
It was her desire that in lieu of a formal memorial you each take a few minutes to remember her fondly with a Pepperidge Farms Milano cookie and a cup of tea at your convenience. If you would like to contribute to a memory book please send a message with your memory to her daughters. Contributions can be made in her name to the charity you had in common with her; Habitat for Humanity or by donating books to help children’s literacy.
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