Delores Richardson Sightler, age 86,  Monday, June 27, 2016 at the Millard Care Center in Delta, Utah. She was born January 17, 1930 in Memphis, Tennessee to Aaron “Slim” and Velma Pearl Richardson. She was a strong woman of faith and a survivor.

At age 5, Delores became a victim of an illegal adoption ring run out of Memphis, TN. During the Great Depression, Delores and her sister - LaQuita Joy, were temporarily turned over to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society while their parents tried to get back on their feet. Before they could be retrieved, the girls were adopted out to wealthy parents in Wisconsin. Delores, already old enough to remember her real parents and asked questions about them, was sent back and adopted out several times, shifting from family to family until she became a young adult. At age 17, she became a mother, and having nowhere else to turn for support, she returned to the Children’s Home. Her little girl was taken from her under false pretenses and adopted out to another wealthy family.

Shortly after, Delores met and married James B. Sightler in 1948 in Oceanside, CA. She had seven more children. They later divorced. Delores worked hard to take care of her children. She was a seamstress and made diving jackets and other scuba diving equipment for Army and Navy while living in El Cajon, CA. There she made a friend of a coworker, Barbara Moody. After Barbara’s husband died, she invited Delores to come live with her in Sutherland. Delores moved to Delta in 1997.

Delores was a faithful member of the Church of Christ, and was grateful for the friendship and support she received there. She was often shy and quiet, but was truly good-hearted. She enjoyed crocheting and having her fingernails painted in bright pink or florescent orange.

Several years ago, her eldest daughter, tracked her down and they were able to become reacquainted. In 2007, through the dedicated efforts of her eldest son, Delores was also reunited with her sister, LaQuita, after 71 years apart.

Delores is survived by her children: Melinda Pike, West Hollywood CA; Gloria Eckert, Van Nuys, CA; James Sightler, Fallbrook, CA; Kathy McKenith, El Paso, TX; sister: Sally Sanders Stearns (formerly LaQuita Joy Richardson). She was preceded in death by children: Gretchen Gilligan, Richard Adler, Paul Sightler, and David Hammond.