Dorothy Sheriff

Dorothy Fay Sheriff was born Dorothy Fay Weeks on January 20, 1925 in Eldorado, Oklahoma to Elizabeth Evelyn and William Arthur Weeks.

The family moved to Olathe, Colorado when she was 3 years old and were all farmers on the western slope, 6 miles west of town. And of course, she walked those 6 miles to school…. in the deep show... uphill both ways... just as we all say we have done!

She was considered a tom-boy back then because she competed in track (broke her leg in the broad jump), played baseball and played the base drum in the band.

After graduating from Olathe High School in 1943, she worked for a dry goods store in the neighboring town of Delta, Colorado.

We’ve all been told that she met Calvin V. Sheriff shortly after he was newly separated from the Army Air Corp after serving during WWII. Also told is that she bested him on their 1st date on a rabbit hunt (or was it tin cans?). He was so impressed he decided he’d better marry her!

They were married August 25, 1945.

Mom loved fishing trips with the family. Her sister’s families and her daughter and son. Some of her most treasured memories were of those trips. Fires at night for wieners, marshmallows and s’mores. Always having all the tackle and supplies anyone could need. Racing for shelter when it suddenly rained. Keeping drinks cold in the snow bank. Mosquitos as big as hummingbirds.

One trip we reached our ‘limit’ and woke Marvin to conceal the catch so we could go back and fish some more! He joined us and we laughed...and laughed. a lot.

She….

… Carried a .38 but the only time she was seen using it was shooting blanks at a rattlesnake

… Never forgave the Broncos for discarding Tim Tebo

...Performed a wild dance to get a large lizard off of her leg. One of the kids had ‘lost’ it in the car and it fell out of the dash and wrapped itself around her leg.

...Was able to camp for 3 weeks providing 3 meals a day including biscuits, cakes and fried pies. And still had time to dig in the excavations. She was the one who packed the ‘medicine chest’ which was also known up and down the beach for having everything for almost any emergency. Someone had to do it!

...Performed middle of night service calls to assist stranded U-Haul travelers with flats or breakdowns. She sustained the severe back injury that plagued her the rest of her life while changing a trailer tire.

...Water skied. The many years we went to Elephant Butte for water skiing day and camping trips, she never wanted to ski. She would be towed on the large saucer with her friend and ,when they splashed down, you could hear the laughter across the lake. After several years of harassment for not wanting to learn to ski, she asked Laura to take her to the far end of the lake, presumably to hunt for pottery or arrow heads along the shores. However, what she wanted was to learn to ski, in private. After 4 or 5 attempts, she popped up and Laura towed all the way back to camp. After the landing, she said “Now, leave me alone!” She never skied again.

...Helped build a small barn while in Washington and smoked pot for the first and last time. With a giant grin on her face, she said she didn’t know what the big deal was. She also fell in love with a tiny white Chihuahua pup she brought home and named Misty.

... The Lincoln wouldn’t fit into the garage when we first moved in so the first thing she did was call a contractor to build an extension. She then built a work bench and lots of shelves because she wanted to. When we heard pounding on the walls, we never knew what she was building! If she needed it, it got done. Even now, if you need a tool, she probably has one you can borrow. Just make sure you return it.

...Bowling was a great love. Even more than the actual bowling scores, it was the friends and family time and the fun and laughter that kept us all trying again and again. When she was teaching Josh to bowl, he says she would not let him use the bumpers or a wrist brace, in effect, take the easy way. He said he always appreciated that. Starting while she worked for Levi Strauss, she enjoyed may years and different bowling teams and leagues, including tournaments across the city and state-wide. Many of the other teams members and league friends called her ‘Mom’. She bowled as long as she could and has kept in touch with the ladies from her last team all these years. She always looked forward to their ‘dinners’ every 1st Monday of the month; they were very special to her.. Theresa, Amy and Mable. She loved each one very much.

…Something from the oven. She would call and say ‘meet me at the gate’. It could be cookies, Amish or banana bread, pie, biscuits or whatever. It was always good. She was an amazing cook and baker.

...She had the pleasure of the company of many 4-legged special people along the way. Besides Blackie of the family home, she later gave a home to Misty, the tiny white Chihuahua from Washington, then three siblings named Charlie, Desi and Ruby, also Chihuahuas. Max and Tiny were not Chihuahuas but joined the family as strays who called her driveway home, first one then the other. There were no more after her sight began to fade.

She is survived by her 4 children along with grand-children and great grand-children

...Richard Dean Sheriff (Rick), of Sparks NV with his wife Melinda they are parents of

Richard Dean Jr. of Reno NV with his wife Liz Leonard they are parents of Noah and Bridget

David Andrew of San Diego CA with his wife Chenay they are parents of Rowena, Giacinta, Karyssa and Lorenzo

Kate Elizabeth Janes of Reno NV with her husband Ben they are parents of David

Molly Ellen Bell of Sparks NV is mother of Caleb, Jacob, Abigail and Emma

...Kathleen Sheriff (puppies and kitties galore)

…Marvin Edward Sheriff of Angel Fire NM and his wife Shirley Marie

Step-father to Molly McDaniel Cook whose husband is Clint Cook and they are parents of Nicholas Espn and Berkley Jane

...Laura Ann Sheriff of Castaic CA is mother of

Joshua Sheriff of Castaic CA with his wife Christine they are parents of Vash and Callen

Dorothy was one of 8 children and was the last surviving sibling with the longest life in years. Order of birth...

...Alma Goode, Manual Weeks, Alene Burlison, George “B” Weeks, Mildred Jackson, WA “Jiggs Jr, (Dorothy 7th) and Wilma Washington.

We are absolutely positively sure that a glorious reunion has already begun!

Honoring her final wishes, the family is planning a memorial in Olathe CO over the Memorial Day weekend where her ashes will be interned at the foot of her mother’s grave.

Also to honor her wishes, in lieu of flowers, please make any contributions to Cancer Research.

Arrangements have been made through

FRENCH Funerals & Cremations.

Goodbye for now and ‘please be careful.’