

Shelby County, Missouri, on November 11, 1930, left us for her
reward on August 15. What an amazing life she led.
One of her earliest memories was of her sister, Marilyn Sue, who was
born in October, four years later, in Missouri.
Turning the keys to the house over to the county, her folks packed up
their car and set out for Colorado. In the midst of the depression,
worsened by the dust bowl, they headed out on quite the risky
adventure with the promise of work ahead.
Laveta’s childhood was spent in the Elyria neighborhood of Denver.
Growing up, mom learned lessons that would serve her for life. She
learned the importance of family.
Sacrifices made by her parents were matched by sacrifices she made
for her family. The propensity to cook much, cook well, and cook
often was passed from Laveta to me and to her grandchildren. She
could cook mouth watering dishes at the stove as well as over a
campfire.
She learned to sew at the feet of her grandmother. She was not
simply a seamstress, but an accomplished tailor. The suits she made
for work were stunning.
Mom was encouraged to try different things. She played steel guitar,
roller derby, sledded, bowled, and camped. It amazes me she also
played basketball at Manual High School. it comes as no surprise
she raced jeeps, rode miles in snow machines, and golfed later in life.
In her junior year of high school, she met this tall, dark, and
handsome stranger. Home from the service, Clint Donly stepped into
her life in December of 1946. I found a note that her first date was to
dad’s birthday party the following May. On Christmas Eve, a year
after she first met him, mom was engaged to be married. Laveta
Poor became Laveta Donly December 5, 1948, at the age of 18. She
once told me she insisted on waiting until she could individually
choose without having to get the permission of her parents to be wed
under the legal age in Colorado.
Indicative of her business acumen, among other things, Mom
purchased their first jeep.
Darrell was born July 5, 1951, while mom and dad were living in a
small trailer on Federal Street. The GI Bill allowed them to move to a
1100 sq. ft. House in Hoffman Heights, which was then in the very
eastern part of Aurora.
I came along February 8, 1954. That ‘sacrifice part’ mom would
make for her family was about to begin in earnest. Probably during
the summer of 1955, mom’s folks identified an issue while watching
home movies. This led to me being in a full body, plaster cast, while
in cloth diapers, for a year, to correct a congenital hip dislocation.
Special high chair, special car seat, Darrell picking up my dropped
toys, and ruining every baseboard in the house commenced. While I
was still in the cast, on January 20, 1956, dad was in an accident at
work and broke his back. He beat the 10% chance of walking again.
I can’t imagine how mom dealt with both her husband and her
daughter battling the basic ability to walk at the same time. She was
also quick to comment she could not have made it without family.
She went to work full time to provide for the family and didn’t stop
working until she retired from AT&T/Lucent decades later as a
manager of transportation.
Toward the end of 1956, mom and dad became charter members of
the Mile High Jeep Club. Nothing like working full time, raising 2 kids,
keeping up with the house, sewing, and volunteering to serve as
secretary for the Jeep Club. Oh, mom also began racing Jeeps. On
off weekends while not camping or racing, they played cards with
friends, helped Darrell achieve Eagle Scout and supported me in
Rainbow girls. Mom was always there for Dad during his Shriner’s
Jeep events.
About the time we went to college, Mom and Dad started traveling
extensively. Darrell found Marian, whom mom often described as the
best possible daughter in law. Rebekah, Corinne, and Morgan were
great reasons to take a trip, whether it was to see them, or begin
showing them the world. While overseas on a trip in 1996, Dad
suffered a fatal heart attack. Mom missed him desperately, but
proceeded to completely redo their house on Kansas place in Aurora.
New bathrooms, new kitchen, new floors, and removal of the old
wallpaper and furniture were undertaken.
Once that project was finished, she proceeded to buy a cabin next to
Marilyn and Keith’s in Alpine in 1999. She more than doubled the size
of it with a complete renovation that she pretty much planned on her
own.
Remember the Jeep Club and pinochle days? Their best friends were
Jim and Shirley. Shirley passed around the same time as dad. Mom
and Jim became reacquainted. On July 16 in 2005, mom became
Mrs. James Hefner at a service in Alpine. They continued to explore
Colorado and the world and continued to drive Jeeps.
About 10 years ago we began noticing Mom’s dementia. Mom and
Jim were both supposed to move to Parker Morningstar Assisted
Living. Jim’s health declined rapidly and he was not able to join mom
when she moved there in December 2016. Jim passed in January
2017.
We have much to be thankful for. The world is a better place for the
90 years it had mom in person. Mom held her great granddaughter
in her arms while she could still remember. Mom lost McKenna’s
name and relationship along the way, but until close to the end,
always wanted to make sure the baby was ok.
Mom passed along to her 3 beloved grandchildren her fiercely
independent spirit. She gave a triple dose of her strong will and
independence to McKenna. She instilled a love for travel and life long
learning. Mom kept her smile and cheerful disposition. Mom’s love
for life and people was celebrated by those who cared for her until
the end. More than one person confided they were not supposed to
tell us, but Laveta was their favorite. She always had a kind word and
compliment for those who cared for her.
Laveta Mae Poor Donly Hefner, daughter, sister, mother, aunt,
grandmother and great grandmother,…….
The greatest thing for which I am thankful is I know where you are at
and I am also coming. We can hope you are scratching the ears of
dogs, racing jeeps up and down the streets paved in gold and are
winning at pinochle. We’re promised God has a seat for us at His
table. Somehow, I’d like to think He is already consulting with you on
the menu.
So mom, it is not Goodbye. It is until we meet again…….
PALLBEARERS
Ken Hancock
Lynn Cleveland
Seff Gilbert
Matt Giaraffa
Michelle Daining
Jordan Crair
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