Gloria Doreen Dailey

Gloria Doreen Dailey passed away in her Phoenix home, two weeks after celebrating her ninetieth birthday. Loving family members and friends were at her side.

Gloria was born in Globe, Ariz., to Dorina and Gregorio Blanco, both children of Spanish immigrants who came to Globe-Miami during the copper mining boom. In 1938, Dorina and Greg moved to Phoenix with their daughters, Gloria and Diane and Dorina's mother, Dorotea Garcia.

One could say that art was the "theme" of Gloria's life, beginning with dance. As a small child, she would come home from Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies and imitate the choreography.

While a student at Phoenix Union High School, Gloria was a dancer in the Mask of the Yellow Moon, a nationally known pageant. Later, she excelled at flamenco and Spanish dance and toured briefly with Lydia Torea and a troupe of local dancers.

Gloria attended Phoenix College, where she joined a sorority, making life-long friends. It was there that she began to study painting and drawing. At Arizona State University (Tempe), one of her instructors was famous Hopi artist Charles Loloma, who befriended Gloria and encouraged her work.

Gloria married Richard Dailey and had two daughters, Maya and Dina. They moved first to California, then to New Jersey. There, Gloria began a career in social services, advancing quickly to the position of Administrator for Hospitals and Mental Health for the state. As time passed, she became a single mother balancing a demanding job with course work at NYU, from which she obtained a Fine Arts degree.

In the mid-1990s, Gloria retired and returned to Phoenix, to help care for her ailing mother. After a few years, she met Calvin Lash, who became her devoted partner until her passing. Together they enjoyed the simple pleasures of mountain drives, books, good food, and a good cup of coffee.

Gloria was a humanitarian at heart, always concerned with the wellbeing of others. She was eager to share her love of nature, diverse cultures, and of course, artistic expression of all kinds.

Her legacy can be seen in the creative and challenging life paths her children and grandchildren have undertaken.

Gloria Dailey is survived by sister Diane Blanco; daughters Maya Dailey and Dina Dailey Cassidy (husband Craig); grandchildren Zoe Dailey, Zachary Dailey, and Kealey Cassidy; great granddaughter Isabella Dailey; partner Calvin Lash; and childhood friend, Rena Sanchez Mortenson.

A graveside ceremony will be held on Friday, April 10th, 2026, 2:00 pm at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. There will be a celebration of life to immediately follow at Maya’s Farm.