Here’s to Delores King, the quintessential mother bear who, for over 65 years, fiercely defended her 10, YES TEN, offspring against all who would dare to even think about doing them harm.

While diminutive in stature relative to her towering husband and 6 sons, the Hulk once stated, he would gladly take on all seven of them rather than cross Delores. She had an elegant Eastern European beauty that she passed on to her 4 daughters.  But it was her proudly defiant womanhood gene that most attracted me to her 2nd daughter and allowed me to marry in to this family.

Interacting with Delores for over 40 years, taught me a lot about respect for her gender, standing up for what is right, and unconditional love.  There was still much more to learn, but after 86 years of fighting the very, very good fight, the forces of nature took her physically away from us, but her never-say-die spirit lives on in all who were lucky enough to know her.

 Note to God: You probably want to start making those changes for the better NOW.