From Red Cross blood drives to square dancing, Dorothy Daggett of Joseph has been part of a myriad of activities during her 30-plus year residency in Wallowa County.

Now Daggett, 75, is moving on in the near future to be closer to family members in the Redmond area.

My kids have been after me for years, Daggett said. If it was Portland, I wouldnt move, but I went to school and have friends in Prineville. She also has two sons and other family members in the Prineville area, including a newborn great-grandson.

An open house to honor Daggett and her many years of volunteer service is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. today (March 17), at the Community Connection center in Enterprise. 

Its no coincidence that one of her volunteer jobs is at the center, where Daggett has been a mainstay. Shes acted as a greeter/cashier for senior mealsite lunches for over 10 years, plus at different times driving the mealsite bus, delivering meals-on-wheels and serving on the Community Connection advisory council.

Well miss her. Shes like family, said Carolyn Pfeaster, the agencys local manager.

 A retired licensed practical nurse, who also raised six children, Daggett worked in Bend and La Grande before moving to Joseph 30 years ago. Here she worked at Wallowa Memorial Hospital for about one year, and then Winding Waters Clinic for over a dozen years before retiring.

With husband Charlie, who died in 2003, she was very active as a square dancer, both in the local Alpine Twirlers group and at the state level. 

She was the volunteer chairman of the Red Cross blood drives in Wallowa County for many years (I didnt keep track how many, she said), and has been active in both the Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild and the Wallowa Mountain Red Hat Society.

Daggett is also a past president of the local chapter of AARP, in which she was active for many years.

With other pastimes not keeping her quite as busy as in the past, about five years ago Daggett took up bowling and joined the Monday night womens bowling league.

Last Friday in between senior meal customers Daggett said she would miss Wallowa County. Ill miss all the people I know. I have a lot of friends, she said.

Still, she is looking forward to spending time with her family in Prineville, holding that new great-grandbaby and getting reacquainted with old friends. Does she plan to get involved and become a volunteer in Prineville?

Well, I wont sit around and do nothing, Daggett said.