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Dorcas de la Santos Beltran Cuniffe Greer

Dorcas de la Santos Beltran Cuniffe Greer passed away peacefully May 20 in Winslow, Arizona.

Dorcas was born May 13, 1946 on the island of Mindanao, Philippines to Ludovico and Felisa Beltran. She and her family moved to the United States when she was about six years old. In 1964, Dorcas graduated from Armijo High School in Fairfield, California. Four years later, she obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of California at Davis. While at UC Davis, Dorcas met John W. Cuniffe and the two were later wed. They moved to Arizona where John worked for KNAU and Dorcas began her teaching career on the Navajo reservation. John joined her in the educational teaching field teaching at Northland Pioneer College while Dorcas moved to the Winslow Unified School District where she taught for over 20 years.

While in Winslow, they were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Erin and Kelly. Dorcas' passion of teaching and life-long learning led her to earning her master's degree in applied linguistics from Northern Arizona University. She lost John to heart disease in January 1995.

Three years later she met Ed Greer, the love of her life. They were married on Oct. 31, 1998. They moved to Williams where Ed still works for the Grand Canyon Railway and Dorcas continued her love of teaching at Coconino Community College. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and battled it with her amazing passion and strong spirit until the day she died.

She is survived by her husband, Ed Greer; daughters, Erin Cuniffe (David Silva), Kelly (Michael Espinoza); granddaughters, Penelope and Gwendolyn; two brothers, Levi (Alma) and Cesar (Victoria) Beltran; sister Helen (Gino Gonzales) and many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her first husband John, parents Ludovico and Felisa and three older brothers.

A service took place May 24 at the First Baptist Church.


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