Darwina Doris Mcdonnell

Dodie passed away quietly in her sleep on May 29, 2013. Even in the most difficult times in her illness, Dodie surprised and charmed everyone with the sharp sense of humor we all loved and will remember.

Dodie was born in Fort Collins on January 17, 1930 and moved to North Denver as a child. Her father, Levin ("Red") Foree came to Colorado in a covered wagon from Missouri in 1903. He worked on the Foree family farm until he moved to Denver with his bride, Pauline Eikenberg. Dodie was the younger of Levin and Pauline's two children, but her sister sadly died in infancy before Dodie was born. Thus, Dodie was raised as an only child and her son, Charley, was also an only child - an only child of an only child. Need we say more......

Claude McDonnell, Dodie's future husband, grew up with Dodie in the neighborhood around Lowell and 31st in Denver. They both graduated from North High School, Dodie in 1948 and Claude the year before. Claude took a leave from high school to join the Navy Sea Bees during World War II. The newlyweds continued to live in their beloved North Denver neighborhood until they moved to Wheat Ridge in the early sixties.

During the 1950s and 60s, Dodie ranked among the best bowlers in Denver. Her highest score was a a strike short of a perfect game. Until Claudes's death in 1996, they traveled throughout the West in their motor home with their friends in the Wagon Train RV group and the Elks. Grammy and Granpa also took Katy and Amy for trips in the motor home, including a trip to Disneyland. After Claude's death, Dodie and Charley traveled extensively to Black Hawk and Las Vegas. Dodie also served as Charley's best man at his wedding to Pam in 1998.

When Dodie's health required greater care, she returned to her favorite North Denver neighborhood to reside at the Argyle Senior Living Center. For the last several years, the staff of the Argyle has lovingly cared for Dodie. We will be forever grateful to those amazingly kind and patient people at the Argyle.

Dodie is survived by her son, Charley, She was also the loving and proud grandmother of Amy (Kevin) Travers and Katy (Ordy) Garrison and great grandmother to Emily and Caleb Travers. Dodie was also the beloved mother-in-law and friend to Charley's wife, Pam.

If you would like, we ask you to consider donating to the Argyle Assisted Living center (a non-profit) to help them continue to care so kindly for other seniors.