Longtime Lakeport, Calif., resident, Adele Burriss Grothe, born Feb. 3, 1927, in the Scotts Valley home of her parents, Margaret Marie (Wright) Burriss and Lewis Clyde Burriss, died at her home in Ada, Oklahoma, on Feb. 7, 2012.

She married Franz Daniel Grothe, her high school sweetheart, on June 13, 1945. While Dan was serving in the Army, Dell, 18 years young, took the train to Colorado Springs, Colo., for their wedding.

They had four children: Lewis (Jeep), Trudi, Jenny and Art.

Throughout Dan and Dell’s marriage Dell was a full partner in all their business endeavors. She drove truck when they were homesteading and potato farming in Idaho, hauled pears in Scotts Valley and managed the office during the appraising years.

Her eye for color elevated her quilts to works of art, and she shared her love of cooking with friends far and wide. If her cheese balls were not world famous, they were regionally renowned. Her home was a special place infused with love, and graced by her ability to mix antiques with contemporary influences.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret Marie (Wright) Burriss and Lewis Clyde Burriss; her sisters Loretta Ussery and Elva (Jimmy) Knight.

With the death of her son, Lewis Daniel (Jeep) Grothe, killed in action in 1967 in Vietnam, the Army designated her a Gold Star mother.

She is survived by her husband, Dan: daughters, Trudi and Jenny (husband Rick); son Art (wife Janine); six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 High St. Lakeport, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2012, with a reception to follow.