Vivian Mary Dobey

Vivian Mary Dobey, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 2, 2020 in Columbia, MO. She died peacefully that evening with her husband of 65 years, Ronald Dobey, by her side after a long illness.

Visitation by family and friends will be between 1 pm and 3 pm followed by a Celebration of Vivian’s life at 3:00 pm Saturday, March 14, 2020 Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia. Vivian’s ashes will be placed at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia at a later date.

Vivian was born on January 17, 1930 in Bridgeport, CT to the late William Matthew Kane and Mary (Fekete) Kane. She became a registered nurse after graduating from Lauralton Hall High School in Milford, CT and St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Hartford, CT. She held various nursing positions in Bridgeport, CT until she married Ron. In 1972, she returned to geriatric nursing in Fairfax, VA when Ron, Jr. began college and worked as a nurse until her retirement.

Vivian met her future husband while working in Bridgeport and they were married on April 24, 1954 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. She became active in the altar guild, as an acolyte mother and parish visitor, at their church in Virginia which became their home in 1964. Her family’s life was centered by their faith for the remainder of her life. Vivian was born to wonderful parents who had built a strong, loving marriage. With all the extended families that became part of hers and the friends she made throughout her life, she knew how blessed she was. Vivian came to realize that the many blessings in her life stemmed from the knowledge that Jesus had died for her sins and earned her a place in heaven.

Vivian loved her career in nursing and will always be remembered both in her career and her personal life as a very giving person. She continually put the needs of others before her own, making newcomers feel welcome and living a life of service to her family, her friends, and her God. During her life, she was an active volunteer both in and outside of the church. She served as a den mother when her sons were in Cub Scouts and supported their advancement through Boy Scouts, volunteered at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, and at both Truro Episcopal Church and Trinity Episcopal Church, the family’s parish homes in Virginia. She was loved and admired by all whose lives she touched and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Ronald John Dobey of Columbia, MO; sons, Ronald John Dobey, Jr. of Rocheport, MO, John Darrell Dobey of Centennial, CO, and Douglas William Dobey of Richmond, VA; daughters-in-law, Tarilyn Sue (Starzinger) Dobey of Rocheport, MO, Marie Catherine (Cowhick) Dobey of Centennial, CO, and Liza Corbett of Richmond, VA; granddaughters, Allison Mary (Roberts) Burrier of Evergreen, CO, Erin Claire Dobey of Denver, CO, and Harper Lee Dobey of Richmond, VA; grandsons John Starzinger Dobey and Colin William Dobey of Rocheport, MO, brother-in-law, Russell Lewis Dobey of Wilton, CT; several nieces and nephews including, William Matthew Kane III of Grand Junction, CO, Breta Claire Kane of Estes Park, CO, Mary Kathleen (Kane) Pickering of BelAir, MD, Susan Eileen Kane of Centreville, MD, John Ernest Kane of Denver, CO, Pamela Maren (Dobey) Peters of Pomfret, CT, Laura Kimbel (Dobey) Amicucci of Fairfield, CT, and Lisa Marie Dobey of Fairfield, CT; and great-granddaughters, Margaret Frances and Penelope June Burrier of Evergreen, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law, John and Helen Dobey, older brother, William Matthew Kane, Jr., sister-in-law, Shirley (Steves) Kane, sister-in-law Marie Emily (Gobeil) Dobey, and nephew, Daniel James Kane.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, friends consider making a memorial contribution in Vivian’s name to Calvary Episcopal Church (123 South Ninth St. Columbia, Missouri 65201) or Trinity Episcopal Church (825 College Ave. Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401).