Clara Dolores Baldridge, 80, of Dimmitt, Texas passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 in Dimmitt.  Celebration of life service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. in the Colonial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jonathan Sullivan of the First Baptist Church officiating.  Burial will follow at 1:00 P.M. in the City of Levelland Cemetery under the care of Colonial Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home.

Dolores was born on October 23, 1936 in Garza County, Texas to Roy and Evelina (Whiteworth) James.  Dolores was the youngest of seven children and spent much of her youth at the family farm located near Post, Texas.  While in high school she moved to Sundown, Texas and met Weldon "Smiley" Allison and they were married in 1954.  Shortly after marriage Smiley enlisted with the United States Air Force and they were stationed in Tacoma, Washington.  Dolores and Smiley lived in various towns where he worked in the petroleum industry and their travels brought them to Dimmitt in December 1963.  Dolores has been a resident since and enjoyed being a part of the Dimmitt community.  Throughout her life she opened her heart to everyone and treated all as a member of her family, where you received praise when she felt it was justified as well as getting a scolding when she felt you needed it.

Dolores was employed by Family Mart until its closure in 1969 at which time she started working for the Castro County News.  In 1987 she started working for the Dimmitt City Hall where she not only became friends with everyone in town but with Castro County's farmers and ranchers.  Along with her administration duties for the city she served as administrator and member of the Water Board monitoring water wells in Castro County.  She retired from the City Hall after 25 years in 2012.  Smiley passed away in May, 1970 leaving behind Dolores and their three sons Roger, Larry, and David.  In 1972 she married William "Judge" Baldridge and she worked with him on various farming projects until his death in 2001.

Dolores enjoyed cooking and entertaining, not only for her family but, all of their friends.  Her house was always filled with the aroma of baked goods and her famous summer sausage.  She grew gardens throughout her life and summers were filled with canning and freezing the fresh produce while the winters are remembered with consuming the fruits of the summers' labor.   Dolores also enjoyed spending good times on the golf course with friends where she was an avid member of the Ladies Golf Association.

All family members were cherished by Dolores and she loved spending time with each of them.

She is survived by three sons, Roger Allison and wife Janice of Orange, Texas, Larry Allison of Amarillo, Texas and David Allison of Dimmitt, Texas, 3 step-children, Janice Cates of  Ulysses, Kansas, Karen Newman of Dimmitt, Texas and Jerry Baldridge of Ruidosa, New Mexico, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Dolores was preceded in death by a daughter Debra Ann Allison, husband, Weldon "Smiley" Allison and husband William "Judge" Baldridge along with 6 siblings.

In lieu of flowers or memorials we ask that you reflect and reminiscence on your life's experiences with her as well as spending time with your loved ones and sharing time with friends and neighbors, especially the elder community.