Margaret E. Dortland

Our beloved family member, Margaret E. Dortland, passed away peacefully on June 26 at the age of 95. Margaret was born in Gorham, Kansas on November 13, 1911, the second of four children of Mayme and John Henry Dortland. She was curious about her world, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas in 1934, a time when women were few in number on college campuses. Marge was an accomplished artist, first in oils and watercolors, then later in life taking up pastels. Following her retirement from the Phoenix School District, she moved to Denver where she lived, until recently, in Windsor Gardens and devoted her time to painting and service to Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Margaret dedicated much of her life to the care of her mother, and she was deeply involved in the lives and upbringing of many of her siblings' children who regularly remembered her on Mothers' Day. She is survived by her niece, Geraldine Wheeler of Denver; nephews Everett and his wife Cora of Gorham, KS, Douglas Cox of Bellingham, WA, James Cox and his wife Bonnie of Durham, NC; and many grand nieces and grand nephews. A memorial service will be held at St Mary's Catholic Church in Gorham, Kansas at a future date.