Delores Marion Carver

Mass of Christian Burial for Dolores (Dody) Carver will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014 at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Gillette, WY, with burial to follow in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 25, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. with a Vigil starting at 6:00 p.m. at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Gillette resident Dolores Marion (Dody) Carver, 82, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday morning, July 19, 2014 from complications related to COPD. Thanks to the staff of Primrose, in Cheyenne and Gillette, Dody made many new friends in 2014. Dody was born on May 18, 1932 in Sidney, Montana to Edward (Pat) and Alice (Allie) (Kelly) MacGrady. Her family lived in a log cabin with a dirt floor on her beloved family "farm", eventually building a one bedroom home complete with indoor plumbing and a white picket fence that Dody loved. She attended country school and was proud that because of her grades she was able to skip a grade. She and her sister rode to school on horseback when weather permitted. During the winter, her father would move a wagon to the school where the sisters stayed with their mother to attend school. Dody loved her extended Sidney family and their prized dill pickles which were dated like fine wine. Her family also loved the chokecherries raised in the area. Annually massive amounts of chokecherries were picked and turned into wine, jelly and syrup. Eventually the family was able to obtain housing in town so Dody and her sister could attend high school. She graduated from Sidney High School a year early and relished having been offered a job with the FBI. Dody married Billy George Dorr in 1952 in Cheyenne. They had 5 children. As a fulltime mother and homemaker her family moved from Cheyenne back to Sidney, then to Bozeman, Missoula and Miles City before moving to Gillette in 1963. After 10 homes in 10 years, Dody was able to build her dream home on the edge of town. She loved to look out her picture window and watch as Gillette grew up and past her on Richards Avenue. Dody was a creative mother who always tried to do the best for her children. She created a clever birthday cake of her child's choice from a picture in a magazine for every birthday. Her home allowed her children to prosper and thrive. She reveled in her pride of each child as they individually excelled from scholastics to sports to just having a good time. She raised her children not just with nurturing but also with her beloved "strap" used to remind her 4 sons of the importance of obedience. One mystery that Dody never solved was who cut her strap into little pieces and then gave it to her as a Christmas present. Being a staunch Catholic all her life, she saw to it that no one missed Mass and that her sons served as altar boys. The Altar Society was an important part of her life for many years. After her divorce, Dody went to work for the Campbell County School District. She started as a janitor at Lakeview Elementary School and worked her way up to the "head shed" where she enjoyed archiving student records until her retirement. In 1980 Dody met Mel Carver who she married on her birthday in 1981. With her children grown, Mel became the center of her life. She became very involved with the American Legion and was an active member of the Woman's Auxiliary. It was almost unheard of for the Legion to hold their bingo and Friday night dinners unless Dody was there volunteering. The members of the Legion became a part of Dody's family. She was most proud each time she convinced a grandchild to join the Sons of the American Legion. She also was a member and supporter of the VFW Post 579, the Moose, and the Eagles. Dody loved to attend family activities. She enjoyed watching a great grandchild and her eyes would twinkle when she could get a little one to sit on her lap. Dody is survived by her children, Mark Dorr (Carol), Patrick Dorr, and Shawn Dorr (Sonya) of Gillette; Joel Dorr (Julie) of San Diego; and Michelle Kallhoff (Doug) of Cheyenne; stepson Michael Carver (Mary) of Gillette; brother-in-law Harold Thogersen; nephews and niece; Jim Thogersen (Brenda), Colleen Haralson (Rance) and Tim Thogersen (Loni) all of Sidney, MT; 10 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, 2 great-grandsons and 5 great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Patricia (Tris) Thogersen and her husband. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Memorials and condolences may also be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or via our website: www.gillettememorialchapel.comFuneral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716