Dorothy Chafin

Prescott lost one of its' longtime residents and benefactors on October 26, 2006. Dorothy was born on November 18, 1914, on a ranch in the Peach Springs area to Samuel Franklin and Lottie Grounds Crozier, both natives of Arizona. When Dorothy was 4 years old, her family moved to a ranch in northwest Colorado, where she lived until the early 1930's before returning to Prescott. Dorothy was attending the University of Denver when her family moved back to Prescott. She then transferred to Fresno State until the depression caused her to return to Prescott and take an accounting job at Harmon Audit Company, leading to a career specializing in ranch accounting. By her own account, this intruoduced Dorothy to some of the most interesting people she had ever known. For many years Dorothy had an office just off the lobby of the historical Hassayampa Hotel, which was a popular meeting place for clients, ranchers, and friends. These friendships naturally led toher involvement in numerous sctivites. She was a member of the Smoki and chosen and named "Totcha" Head Squaw and Chieftess, in 1950. Dorothy was also engaged with the Board of the Fair Association, the Rodeo Committee, and the Quarter Horse Committee. She also worked for the School Board of Williamson Valley District #2. Among the many influential people in her life where Lester Ruffner and Lester W. "Budge" Ruffner, who pushed her to accept a state office in the Business and Professional Women's Club. Dorothy was elected the first female President of Prescott Chamber of Commerce in 1956, the Business Woman of the Year for Prescott, in 1957 and the following year, Business Woman of the Year for the State of Arizona. In 1957 Dorothy and her husband, along with four other professors from the University of Arizona left to teach at the University of Iraq, where they remained until forced to flee because of the revolution. Dorothy married Kemper Chafin in the early 1970's and they lived on Seven V Ranch, outside of Prescott raising and racing Quarter Horses. Dorothy was instrumental in the development and was at the very foundation of both the Phippen Art Museum and the Prescott Art Docents. While Dorothy particiapted in many different groups in Prescott and received numerous awards for her accomplishments including: President of the Republican Woman in 1960, Chairwoman of the Yavapai Republican Committee, in 1974, President of the Art Docents, and Sheriff of the Westerners, both in 1981, founding President Freedom Foundation, in 1983; Republican Woman of the Year, in 1984, Philantropist of the Year in 1993 and 1996, her favorites where Smoki, the Phippen Museum and the Prescott Art Docents. Dorothy traveled extensively throughout the workd, collected art and developed friendships with many artisits. She donated many pieces to leading Arizona art museums. Dorothy will be remember as a benefactor of the arts, and a friend and mentor. In a recent interview she stated "my hometown rewarded me well in many activites I participated in and I still think it is the best place in the world to live." Dorothy is survived by her sister, Mrs. Jean McElliott, of Prescott, AZ and her three children; Steve McElliott (and wife Cheryl), Dwight McElliott (and his wife, Gigi), both of Los Angeles, CA. and Cheri McElliott, of Napa Valley, CA and by her nephews; Larry Crozier (and his wife, Theresa) of Seattle, WA, Dennis Crozier (and his wife, Linda) of Eureka, CA and Sam Crozier of Anacortes, WA.