Martha Dorland Hite

Martha Dorland Hite, age 82 of Denver, CO, passed away on January 26, 2024.  She was born June 14,1941 in Milwaukee, WI to Omar and Marihart Lloyd.  She attended high school in Louisville, KY and graduated from Beloit College.

 Martha came from a family that had donated land and buildings to help establish Virgina Tech University.  

 After college Martha traveled to Europe and worked in a hotel laundry facility in Switzerland with some college friends. They traveled all around Europe and enjoyed the diverse cultures. She then settled in Colorado and took a job at Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado as a social worker working with unwed mothers.  She married David Hite on October 14, 1967 in Princeton, New Jersey.  They had two children, Jennifer and Whitney.  Martha divorced David in 1998.

 When her children were in elementary school, Martha headed back to work as a paraprofessional in the Cherry Creek School District working with special needs kids. Her patience and caring nature were ever present when working with her students.

 Family always came first.  During Martha’s time serving on the jury that convicted the Oklahoma City bomber, the judge asked her if there was anything that would prevent her from serving on the jury.   Martha told him, quite matter of factly, that my son is graduating from college this spring and I WILL be there to see it. 

 Known for her kindness and generosity, Martha actively participated in her children's activities, volunteering at the Virginia Vale Swim Club as the meet scorer for all home meets. She attended countless baseball, basketball and soccer games while supporting her kids. However, her greatest joy came from spending time with her four grandchildren, who affectionately called her "Gammer." Martha had a heart as vast as her travels, and her capacity for love and care was immeasurable. She was always so proud of her kids and now her grandchildren.  She also cherished the many friendships made over the years.

 Her love for travel took her to various corners of the world, exploring Europe, Africa, Canada, and all across America.  Her strong adventurous spirit took her to many National Parks and had her fishing in the boundary waters of Minnesota, glacier hopping by helicopter in Alaska, riding elephants in Zambia and flying between countries in Africa inside a 4-seat puddle jumper that came straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. She had a special place in her heart for the mountains of Colorado as she loved Breckenridge and any beach that had seashells to pick up.

 Martha is survived by her sister Liz (Bill) Thorndike of Boston, MA; her son Whitney (Helen) Hite of Gainesville, FL, along with their three children Jackson, Holly, and Heidi; her daughter Jennifer (Gregg) Luther of Aurora, CO, and their son Dalton; Nephew Duncan Allen (Amy) Holaday, Prosperity, SC. She was preceded in death by her sister Sarah Davis of Vienna, VA, who passed away 13 weeks prior to Martha's own passing. Martha will be sorely missed but is dancing with angels now. 

 Services will be held on March 1, 2024, at 11am at Horan McConaty Chapel, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80246.   

Memorials preferred to Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado (https://flocritco.org/); the National Parks Conservation Association (npca.org) and/or Park Hill United Methodist Church (https://phumc.org?give/).

The family will be available 1 hour prior to the service and there will be a gathering for lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn, 600 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80246 immediately following the service.