Verla Dutra

Verla Mae Dutra

1935 - 2025

Verla "Mae" Dutra was born on March 9, 1935 to Ivan and Minnie Wolfinbarger in Miami, Oklahoma. Mae was the 7th out of 8 kids.

In 1943, Mae, along with her mom and 3 sisters, came to California on a train, the first time traveling for all of them. They arrived at the Guadalupe train station, the same one still there now and were so scared because it was such a huge station.

While most of her family eventually moved north to Woodland California, she stayed in the Santa Maria area, moving to Sisquoc when she 12 years old, where they lived in a calf barn with 3 other families, all sharing 1 toilet and 1 shower!

Mae went to Blochman School for both her 7th and 8th grade. She had a great group of friends growing up, many who were friends for their entire lives. One funny story from this time was the group used to steal chickens and have BBQ's on the weekends. Until they stole a teacher's chicken! On the next school day there was an announcement that the stolen chickens had been sick and close to dying. That was the last chicken they ever stole.

At age 13, she met Manuel Dutra, he was 18. Their first date was a double date with her sister Freeda. They dated for 4 years before getting married in 1951 in Las Vegas. While Manuel was in the service, Mae worked at many different jobs: worked in the fields, packing sheds, fry cook at B&B take out, cocktail waitress.

While Manuel was still in the service she moved near Fort Ord, until he was out of the Army. After moving back to Santa Maria they had their ups and downs. After divorcing in 1955, it was only a few years before they decided to make another go at it and remarried in 1958, but this time in Reno! It lasted until Manuel's passing in 2000. They were never apart long and enjoyed many years traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Mae was a cook at Blochman School and worked hard at home on the ranch as well driving corn truck, raking beans and just helping to keep the ranch going. She enjoyed cooking especially for the yearly cattle brandings. After Manuel died she was the driving force in Dutra Ranch continuing until this day.

Mae had many health struggles throughout her whole life, one of her hardest being Lupus and then burning mouth syndrome later in life. These you could not see and she suffered mostly in silence.

Mae continued to traveI whenever she could: a trip to Oklahoma to visit family, a trip to New York, another to Washington DC and as many family trips to Las Vegas as possible.

Her two loves of her life (after Manuel, Rhonda and Brent) was her grandchildren, Brandy born in 1981 and Matthew born in 1984. She loved spending as much time with them as possible, building tents in the living room, having a pot and pan band, she NEVER missed a t-ball game, Little League game, livestock showing, swim meet or anything involving these two.

As time slowed her down, she loved to work puzzles, hit the casino every couple of weeks and play cards with whoever showed up at her house.

Mae passed on August 26, 2025 almost 25 years to the day of Manuel's passing on August 27, 2000.

Mae is survived by her sister Freeda King. Also survived by her daughter Rhonda and son-in-law Brent, grandchildren Brandy and Matthew, and Lorraine (Cookie) Bewley, who she considered a sister for the last 70+ years, and so many beloved nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 10:00 AM at Santa Maria Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in her memory to Dignity Hospice, who were so caring and supportive in her final days.

Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.