Michele Dawn

Michele Dawn, born Anna Michele Safonov on November 15, 1944, passed away peacefully in her home on March 20, 2025 at the age of 80 years.

Known by friends and colleagues as the “Princess of Process”, Michele and her company, Rancho Attorney Service or RASCAL, have been fixtures in the Temecula Valley for almost 40 years. Michele became interested in law in the late 1960’s, beginning her career as a law clerk for attorney Merv Hecht in Pacific Palisades. She attended college to become a legal secretary and went on to clerk at Harbor Court in Orange County before becoming one of the founders of Saddleback Attorney Service.

Michele possessed a keen mind, and an iron will and was a considerable force of nature. She loved fiercely and was very protective of those she loved, including her two daughters, all her fur babies, and the many people she helped over the course of her lifetime.

Born in Pasadena to Dr. George and Ruth Safonov (Ware), Michele was both beautiful and intelligent. She modeled and acted, sang with Bob Linkletter, appeared in the Dating Game and waitressed at the infamous LA Playboy Club. She simultaneously worked at McDonnell Douglas in Los Angeles, perfectly balancing her brains and beauty.

After marrying the love of her life, John C. Dawn, they moved to Orange County to raise their two daughters. In 1986, they moved to Murrieta, and shortly after moving up to La Cresta, they ended their partnership, and Michele chose to remain and focus on her new business, Rancho Attorney Service. Attorneys from all over the world gave Michele their business because of her unmatchable knowledge, her perseverance on the hard cases and her eye for detail.

Michele is survived by daughters Melissa Laskey (Joel), Colleen Dawn (Jason Karotkin), and her grandchildren Randy (Janna) Dawn, Cade (Kaelyn) Dawn and Carter Laskey, Clancy and Cailin Karotkin, and three great-grandchildren Evelyn Kaloumenos, Charlie Dawn and Barrett Dawn. She is also survived by brothers Michael (Janet) Safonov and Greg (Jackie) Safonov.

Preceded in death by parents George and Ruth, and brother Nicholas.

No services are currently scheduled as the family needs time to grieve this wonderful soul who is already sorely missed. A service will be planned for the beginning of summer.