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Alicia Otilia Quesada

Posted 2020-04-23 by Pat R
Wickenburg Sun (Wickenburg, Arizona)
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, p. A-5

Alicia (Alice) O. Quesada, 96, of Wickenburg, passed away Sunday March 8, 2020. She was born Oct. 8, 1923, in Wickenburg the third of five children of the late Jose Franco and Francisca Ocampo Quesada. She was the granddaughter of Teodoro Mazon Ocampo and Mariana Rodriguez Ocampo who settled in Wickenburg in 1860.

She attended the Little Red School House, graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1941 and attended Lamson Business College in Phoenix.

After her retirement from Social Security Administration in 1984 she and her siblings and their spouses were instrumental in establishing an endowment at Arizona State University to fund student research that increases the understanding of the Hispanic Community while promoting the interdisciplinary work of Hispanic researchers. Each year students receive awards from the Jose Franco and Francisca Ocampo Quesada Research Award Endowment.

Alicia once said, looking back at her life she felt privileged that she is tied to Wickenburg's beginnings through her family's history. "I am proud to be a descendant of some of Wickenburg's founding fathers. Wickenburg is full of history and I am proud to be part of it."

Alicia was very humble and did not boast her recognitions or her accomplishments. If you gave her a moment of your time she would tell you some stories.

Alicia's passion continued to be documenting and compiling family records, photographs and writing her stories for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Alicia is survived by sister Josephine Quesada Alvarez of Payson. She is preceded by her sister Dora Quesada and brothers Eugenio Reynaldo and Bernard Abram Quesada and cousin Mark Morgolis.

She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins William Frances Sr., Louise and Michael Alvarez; William Frances Jr., Suzanne and Nicholas Logan Alvarez; Jim, Terry, Jennifer and Jeffrey Springer; Adelina Ortega; Felix Ortega; Asia Comenon; Yvette Ortega Heinze; Matthew Heinze; Zachary Heinze; Philip Ben, Martha, Sarah (Scott) Ercole, Anna (Jake) Schroeder, Julie Hershkowitz and Mitchell (Haley) Hershkowitz, Ben Hershkowitz; Eva DeHart, Irene Rene' Franks, Kimberly DeHart, and Ronald DeHart Jr. and Keith Gran; Steve and Daphne DeHart Zieder; Aaron and Kyle Zieder; Jacqueline and Travis Miller; Kristin DeHart, Kari Stephens and Kameron Eckert; Bernard, Jo Frances, Daniel Jr., Ruth Ann, and Betsy Ortega; Shirley Dickenson, Rochelle Nicolas, Jo Frances, Jonathan, Linda and Kimberly Snethen; David and Sheila Walker; Angela Anderson, David Jr., and Joshua Walker; Lorne Be., Justin and Jeremy Kelly; Tony and Deinse Fraga; and Jacob, Bethany and Sarah Louise Fraga.

Services were held March 14 at St. Anthony's Parrish, followed by a graveside service and a reception at St. Anthony's Hall. Many family and friends attended.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Miss Alicia Quesada's name to Jose Franco and Francisca Ocampo Quesada Research Award Endowment at ASU Foundation administered by the Honor College at ASU, P.O. Box 2260 Tempe AZ 85280.

David's Desert Chapel handled the arrangements.

See Also: Find A Grave




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