Los Gatos, CA

Jimmie Leatha “Mose” Benson-Dawson passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on May 5,2025. Her passing marked the end of a remarkable century-long life rooted in resilience, curiosity, and generosity.

Born on a farm in Dalhart, Texas, on September 13, 1923, Jimmie moved with her family to New Mexico at the age of three, where she spent her formative years.

Adventurous and driven from a young age, she moved to New York City in her early twenties to pursue acareer in marketing—an uncommon and bold choice for a young woman at the time.

Jimmie eventually settled in Los Gatos, California, a place she called her true home. There, she raised her children, built a career as a working woman, and cultivated lifelong friendships and a deep love for the arts, music, and giving back to her community. Los Gatos was where her heart was, and where she felt most herself.

She dedicated part of her career to Hope Services, where she was proud of the programs she helped develop.

A passionate supporter of the arts and her community, she volunteered for the Montalvo Arts Center—chairing the Phelan Library Committee for several years—the San Jose Symphony, and the Valle Monte League, where she served as President . She loved art, music, and reading, and remained a voracious consumer of news and culture throughout her life.

A diehard sports fan, Mose never missed a game when her beloved Warriors, Giants, and later the San Jose Sharks were playing. Later in life, She also volunteered at her son’s restaurant, CB Hannegan’s, where she worked Fridays as a busser and “chief flower facilitator.”

Mose was known above all for her boundless kindness and unconditional love. She made everyone she met feel like family—embracing each person with warmth and a joyful spirit that was unmistakably hers.

Mose lived independently until just before her 99th birthday, when a stroke marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with deeper care and closeness. In her final years, she was surrounded by the enduring love of her son Todd and daughter-in-law Denise, in whose home she lived, and by her granddaughter Dondakay, whose constant presence and companionship had been a steady source of comfort and joy for much of her later life. Together, they ensured she was supported with grace, dignity, and constant love until her peaceful passing.

She is survived by her four children, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, along with many dear friends and chosen family she held close to her heart. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the Unitarian Church of Los Gatos, for details contact: moseismagic@gmail.com.