Martha Melinda Kratzer Dawson

Martha Melinda Kratzer Dawson, 97, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at California Care Center with her family with her. She was born on the family farm five miles north of California on June 24, 1917, to Charles E. and Mary (Fahrni) Kratzer. She attended Highland School and graduated from Aurora High School in 1936. After graduating she was a nanny for Barbara, Nadia and Jack Disco's daughter, and lived with them in Cleveland and New York City. She then became a nanny for Molly, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth McElroy. Martha went with them to a dude ranch in Colorado where she met a big tough cowboy, John Maurice Dawson. They were married on September 11, 1940, in Buena Vista, Colo. Martha and Maurice lived in such places as Leadville, Colo. Buena Vista, Colo., Chandler, Ariz., finally settling in Double Adobe, Ariz. for eight years where they had a dairy. Later they moved to Livermore Calif. where they again lived on a dairy and their kids attended Junior High and High School. Martha also worked, selling Studio Girl Cosmetics, at a bank in Lowell, Ariz., and at the Vine Theatre in Livermore. After Maurice retired from the dairy, they moved to Madeline were Maurice worked in logging. After his death on July 13, 1972, she moved to Tracy where she owned her own shop "Pauline's Sportswear" for 10 years. When she retired, she moved to Somerset, Calif., close to her son John and his family. Martha was confirmed at the Evangelical and Reformed Church in California, and later was a member of the United Methodist Church. She taught Adult Sunday School and was a Counselor for MYF. In 2002, she moved back to California, Mo. Where she attended California United Methodist Church. She was also a member of Pocahontas, Victoria Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and Oats. Martha loved playing pinochle and was always ready for a game. She also rode horses with her husband Maurice. Martha and Maurice are survived by two children, John Maurice Dawson Jr. (Cyndi) and daughter Linda Jensen (Bruce). She had six grandchildren, Lisa Rash, Robert Jensen, Kenten, Michelle, HeatherAnn, and John Dawson. She had 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters, Wilbur Kratzer (Mary), Herbert Kratzer (Rowene), Gertrude Tague (Walt), and Hilda Evens (Jack). Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in California, Mo. Officiating will be Rev. Eric Moore. Burial will be at the Rohrbach cemetery north of California. Memorials are suggested to the California United Methodist Church or California Nutrition Center c/o Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services. Arrangements are under the direction of BOWLIN-CANTRIEL FUNERAL SERVICES, California, Mo.