Dolores "Dolly" Magaña Hanrahan

Dolores Magaña Hanrahan, beloved mom, grandma, friend and faithful servant to her community and church, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Eagar, Arizona at the age of 88 after a brief illness.

Dolores was born October 22, 1937 in Miami, Arizona to Jose Magaña and Refugio “Cuca” Lopez Magaña. She was raised in Nogales, Arizona with her sisters, Angelina “Angie” Gaynor and Gloria Ingebretson in the home of her maternal grandparents, after the passing of her father. She visited her older sister, Lucia “Lucy” Gonzalez of California often. Her baby sister, Romelia of Miami, Arizona and her two baby brothers received their angel wings as infants. They were among the many to greet her at St. Peter’s gates.

While serving as co-godparents for a mutual friend’s baby in Nogales, Dolores met a handsome Forest Service Ranger who would become the love of her life. Dolores had always dreamed of marrying a cowboy and in Miles Patrick “Pat” Hanrahan she found her dashing John Wayne. Together they shared 58 wonderful years of marriage before Pat’s passing, just nine months prior to her own. Her favorite song was Ave Maria Morales by Marty Robbins because it reminded her a bit of her cowboy (just not the part about the outlaw).

Dolores and Pat moved to Glenwood, New Mexico shortly after they were married. In 1970 they settled permanently in the Round Valley area; first in Eagar and then in Springerville, Arizona. This was her home that she cherished above all else. She refused to leave the White Mountains even after Pat passed.

Dolores devoted countless hours to serving others. She volunteered for many years at White Mountain Regional Medical Center and at local schools. In her later years she continued her service through volunteer work at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.

She was a devoted mother of five children, Irene Kay (Ron) Walters, Eva Marie Hanrahan, Stephen Patrick Hanrahan, Carolyn (Michael) Koury and Michael John (Sheila) Hanrahan. She taught all her kids the important things in life; put salt on oranges, ketchup on potato chips, lemon pepper on popcorn, lemon in Cokes and cottage cheese in guacamole. A snow cone was not something you ate but rather it was the name for a marshmallow and two salmon eggs on a hook used to catch a fish. If you hear a belt snapping down the hallway, someone really screwed up. If a word is in the Bible, it is not a swear word. Speed limits are recommendations and most importantly, defend your children with every ounce of your being.

Dolores was known lovingly throughout her life by many names; including Dolly, Doily, Lola and Lolita. Her favorite was always “Dolly.” Pat affectionately called her “Lolita,” especially when he wanted some of her Mexican cooking. Even if she burned dinner, he always told her it was just the way he liked it.

Dolores had many talents, but her greatest joy in life was singing. She joined the chorus in high school and never stopped singing. She was a founding member of the St. Peter’s Catholic Church Choir in the early 1970’s and continued lifting her voice in song and service until just two weeks before her passing. As she lost her sight she would memorize the words or mouth the word “watermelon” like her nephew, Robert taught her. “No one can tell the difference”, she said. We are certain that she will be singing at her own funeral. The choir was her second family and they took great care and love to make sure she never missed Mass or practice. They were always the first on scene for every emergency and stopped by weekly to check on her. For this we are eternally grateful.

In addition to music Dolores loved reading, embroidery, sewing, quilting and tending to her garden. She took great pride in canning fruits and vegetables and sharing the fruits of her labor with family and friends. Dolores also loved fishing and treasured time spent outdoors looking for wildlife. Who could forget the day she got hypothermia after falling in Tunnel Reservoir trying to save a fish. She didn’t quit fishing until the concerned couple sitting next to her made her leave because she was shaking so hard. She adored hummingbirds and faithfully filled the feeders outside her window every day so she could watch dozens of them fight and squawk and torpedo each other. She loved her horses, Chief and Big Red. She said she couldn’t wait to ride them again in heaven with her handsome cowboy.

Dolores also enjoyed bowling in the Tuesday morning bowling league at Sho Lo Bowl where she formed a great alliance with the owner David Koury. In one of her favorite stories she and David jokingly conspired to “marry off” two of their children, a plan that happily became reality. Dolores and Pat also enjoyed driving “up the hill” to the casino at Hon-Dah several times a week to go “cha-chinging”. Even in her final weeks she never seemed to lose. Just three weeks before her passing she hit a jackpot despite barely being able to see the buttons she was pressing. A bewildered group had gathered round to see how the blind lady was pulling this off.

Dolores was the proud grandma of 19 grandchildren, Tommy, Shae, Andy, Cortney, Scotty, Martha "Pooja", Danny, Laura, Logan, Chase, Diego, Jasmine, Jaycee, Jolina, Ricardo, Xavier, Rio, David and Sean, 9 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Pat, her parents, Jose and Refugio; her sisters, Lucia and Romelia, her baby brothers, her son-in-law, Ron and her grandson, Andy.

Dolores will be remembered for her beautiful voice, her impeccable makeup and fashion, her no-nonsense approach and her service to God. She is reunited now with her beloved cowboy, Pat, where she is singing in Heaven’s choir with crystal clear sight again. He is probably playing the banjo so we know she is giving him the what-for about playing that “thing”.

We wish to thank her devoted grandson, David and friend, Pam for providing such wonderful care and companionship for her these past years and the Beehive Homes of Eagar for providing her with such a warm and comforting home for the past two months. Without a doubt though, the longevity of Dolores’s life was made comfortable by the support of Accord Hospice. Heather Stroud-Ballejos spent the past five years with Dolores and is truly a fourth daughter and member of the family. She knew the “special love” that only a daughter that cares for a person every day knows. She will be a sister always. Will, Brian, Denise and JanaLeigh of Accord in addition, gave our beloved Dolly such kindness and support that will never be forgotten.

Rosary will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a memorial Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Springerville.