A fourth generation Nevadan died on December 23, 2007, at her home in Carson City. Her bubbling personality will be remembered by so many, especially those who experienced her hospitality in her home on no less than 23 Admission Day celebrations.
She was born September 2, 1921 in Elko, Nev. She graduated from Carson City High School in 1939 and attended the University of Nevada at Reno, where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She married Wilford "Bill" Emmett Dunfield on November 20, 1943 in Jackson, Miss. They were married for 53 years at the time of his death on July 30, 1997. She was the daughter of Percy Leroy and Arabella (Bruce) Woodgate.
She was active in the Daughters of the Nile. Also, she participated actively in the PTA as all her sons had attended Carson City schools through all their school years, and she was made a permanent member of the PTA. The last 26 years of her working life were spent at the Nevada State Legislature in the Assembly Bill Room, encompassing 13 legislative sessions.
She is survived by her four sons, William (Pamela) Dunfield of East Moline, Ill., Robert (Gisela) Dunfield of Centreville, Va., James (Donna) Dunfield of Carson City, and Terry Dunfield of Kimberly, Idaho. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Jennifer Dunfield and Katherine Dunfield of Vancouver, Wash., Todd (Susan) Dunfield of Spokane, Wash., Diana (Robert) Marino of Milwaukee, Wis., Rainer Dunfield and
Stuart Dunfield of Centreville, Va., and Kayla Dunfield of Spanish Springs, Nev.
She leaves three great grandsons: Gaven and Mitchell Marino and Keenan Dunfield.
Also surviving is her brother Alfred Melvin (Hazel) Woodgate of Carson City as well as her nieces Aleta Woodgate Murphy and Cyndy Woodgate of Carson City and nephew Bruce Woodgate of Hillsboro, Ore.
A celebration of life will be held later at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Walton's Chapel of the Valley is handling her cremation. Her ashes will be buried with her husband's remains at Lone Mt. Cemetery, Carson City.