MOHAVE COUNTY – A donation of $345,000 from the estate of the late Joanne E. Barton for the new Mohave County Animal Shelter was formally accepted during Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The shelter is under construction on county property north of the Kingman District Library on Burbank St.
Susan Pena, Barton’s friend of 30 years, has served as the administrator of the estate of the woman who retired after more than 20 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Pena said Barton moved to Kingman from Orange County in 2017 and resided at a local assisted living facility before she passed away of dementia last August.
“She was just a lover of animals and she wanted to make sure that the animals were taken care of here in Kingman,” Pena said. “Her main concern was that the money be used for the animals and not wind up in somebody’s pocket.”
Barton’s donation is earmarked for medical equipment and care, dog equipment and cat community expansion within the animal shelter.
Manager Sam Elters and other county officials expressed gratitude for the contribution. “Thank you for this very generous gift for the animals and the shelter,” said Board Chairman Travis Lingenfelter.
Pena said Barton’s estate made three other $345,000 donations in addition to the shelter. The other beneficiaries are the Wounded Warriors Project, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Hope for PAWS organization.
