Dolores Elaine Vile

Dolores Elaine (Chaffee) Vile (5/7/1932-02/24/25)

Dolores Vile passed peacefully on 02/24/25 of complications from Dementia.

Dolores, known as Lora in her later years and Dee in her younger days, was an intelligent, strong, brave, independent woman who held on to that independence as long as her body would allow. Her passion was writing. If you asked Lora who she was or what she did the answer was the same. I am a Writer! It was her identity.

Chapter 1. Dolores was born in Fillmore, California to John Henry and Ethel May Chaffee. She treasured her days on Carpinteria Beach with her uncle Elmer Chaffee. But the divorce of her parents would take her and her young brother Harley (Deceased 10/28/2021) on a journey to a place far from the beach – Geneseo, Illinois. There she wrote poetry and dreamed of returning to California.

Chapter 2. Dolores met a handsome local man when she was 16 by the name of Charles Holliday (deceased 2/2/2008). She and Charles (Chuck) married shortly after her 18th birthday in May of 1950. Their son Michael Holliday was born two years later. Not fond of the rural life, the couple packed up their belongings into a station wagon and together with toddler Michael, set off cross country for their California dream. They settled in Garden Grove. They were gifted with two more children – Suzanne Marie and Sharla Diane. But having married so young, they were destined to grow apart. Though divorced, Chuck would remain a staple in her life until his passing. 

Chapter 3. Dolores found herself juggling 3 kids and trying to make a living for many difficult years. Living in Costa Mesa, CA, she took on many challenges from Store Detective to retail sales, all the while dreaming of writing that first novel. 

Chapter 4. Dolores met Thomas Harold Taber, a struggling entrepreneur and though these years were tumultuous, she buckled down at her typewriter and wrote her first Novel – Greystone Shadows. She was so proud when it was published. She published two more novels – The Seventh Gate and The Blue House. She had made it! But she became disillusioned with the Romance Genre. She wanted to write mysteries! And she did just that, writing half a dozen mystery novels over the next 20 years. They were never published but she was proud of them, nonetheless.

Chapter 5. Dolores and Tom divorced shortly before he became famous with his wood- carved duck and wildlife collection. She kept in contact with him until his death in 2004. 

Chapter 6. After many hard years supporting herself by writing articles, ghostwriting and teaching poetry at a junior college, Dolores would find her life turned upside down. As in every good romance novel, a tall, handsome stranger enters the tale. This man, who would be her Prince Charming and partner in adventure was Judd Mason Vile. She was 52 when they married Oct. 12, 1984. They settled in Quail Valley, Ca, moved to Costa Mesa twice, built a house in Carpinteria and eventually moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Oh, the adventures they had travelling the world as well! These years, Lora was at peace. They were married 28 wonderful years before Judd passed in 2012. He was truly her soulmate.

Chapter 7. Lora spent the next 12 years as a widow. Her wanderlust and adventurous spirit brought her back and forth between Waldport, Oregon and various cities in California. She was restless. She dabbled at her writing, but the inspiration was gone.

Chapter 8. More of an epilogue, as she would not want her last years to define her. Due to health issues, she chose Valencia Terrace Senior Living in Corona, CA to live. It was close to both daughters. She loved to walk and sun herself in the rose gardens, play with the resident dogs, go thrift shopping and to play long hours of Scrabble with her girls. Words were her lifeblood, and she held on to her Scrabble skills nearly to her last day. The Writer’s book is finished now. Rest in peace. Prince Charming awaits.

Lora is survived by her Son, Michael Holliday of Oregon, her Daughter, Suzanne Holliday of California, her daughter, Sharla Crosby and son-in law Randy Crosby of California, her grandson, Kevin Crosby and daughter in law, Dana of Washington; her step children, James Vile, his wife Maureen and Christopher Vile and his wife Christine. She treasured them all. 

Services will be private.