Delores Mae McIntire, the only child of Albert and Bertha (Hunt) Russell, was born May 9, 1931, and died February 4, 2022. At the time of her birth, her parents were living at the junction of the Jack’s Fork and Current Rivers. There, they had established a store, grist mill, post office, and fishing resort. They named it Russell’s Ranch.
Delores grew up there and rode a pony named Spotty to Prairie Hollow School, where she began her studies. In 1948, the Russells sold Russell’s Ranch, and it became known as Two Rivers Resort. They moved into Eminence, where Delores continued her education and graduated from Eminence High School. Her mother became a well-known minister in the area. Delores became a Christian at a young age and attended church services regularly. She also provided piano and organ music for several churches during her lifetime.
After high school graduation, Delores married Daniel Lee Powell, who, in December 1954, he died when his car was hit by a train. By 1955, she had decided to pursue more education to ensure a good job. She enrolled in what is now Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and began a study of business classes. After a few semesters, she applied and received approval for a job with the government. Her first assignment was at Fort Leonard Wood, but after a few months there, she was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard office in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked there until retirement.
Around 1961 she was married a second time to Winfred C. McIntire, and they were very happy. In January 1970, he became ill and was diagnosed with the flu, which was going around at the time. After several days and other trips to medical services, he was found to have appendicitis. Unfortunately, it had not been treated soon enough, and he died on January 29, 1970. She never married again.
In late September 2021, Delores suffered a stroke which left her unable to communicate. She had always insisted that if she had to go to a nursing home, she wanted to go to Birch Tree. She had visited there in the past and was impressed with their service. So, she was taken there the second week of October and lived there until shortly before her death. She tested positive for Covid on January 31st and passed away on February 4th.
Delores was preceded in death by her parents and both husbands. She is survived by three cousins, Dan Cooley, Gary Ipock, and Larry Russell.
