Deaette Vere Case

Deaette Vere “Dede” Case, 71, of Clovis died on May 18, 2018 at her home from complications of a fall.

Born in Fresno, California to James Robert and Norma (Holmes) Allen, Dede lived her life in Fresno and Madera counties. A 1964 graduate of McLane High School, Dede studied business administration at Fresno State and completed her BA in 1984.

Dede Allen and James Smith married later their daughter, Julia, was born May 23, 1967. Dede’s love for her daughter was deep and unqualified. Julia has long been an adult but when talking about Julia, Dede’s eyes would shine brighter and her smile grow bigger just as it did when she spoke of Julia as a child. Their eye-rolling “snarkiness” and faux sarcasm belied the love that bonded them.

Dede went to work at the Fresno County in the Maintenance Department. She married Willis Case; their life together ended with Willis’s death in 2014 but their love story continues on.

Trained in business administration Dede held a number of increasingly responsible positions in bookkeeping and accounting; she retired from the Fresno Teachers’ Association. As a young woman, Dede took up needlework, making beautiful knit and crocheted items. She also became a talented quilter and was one of the founding members of the Heart of California Quilters’ Guild in Madera. A wide range of interests led Dede to membership and lifelong friendships in the Bluestockings Group book club, as well as the First Friday group. Dede was active in local and regional politics and proudly volunteered in support of Valley Public Radio, KVPR.

Dede was preceded in death by the love of her life, Willis Case, her father and mother, stepfather Carlos Stockton of Reedley, her sister, Becky Phillips (Carl) of Merced and her brother David Allen (Susan) of Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Dede is survived by her beloved daughter, Julia Smith of Fresno, her brother Chris Allen (Melanie) of Reedley, stepsons Michael Case (Maribeth) of Camarillo, Julian Case (Linda) of Elmira, OR and David Case (Mary) of Fresno.

Dede’s loving kinship was not limited by birth or marriage; her surviving family includes in-laws, godchildren, honorary grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless people whose lives connected with hers over the years and were forever considered family. Dede’s door and her heart were always open.

A memorial service for Dede will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Jay Chapel, 1121 Roberts Ave, Madera, California with a reception following at the Vineyard Restaurant, 605 South I Street, Madera.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Valley Animal Center, 3934 N. Hayston, Fresno, CA 93728, https://valleyanimal.org