Dorothy May Keller was born June 4, 1929 in Denver to Paul and Frances Keller. Her first 16 years were spent in Brighton, and in 1945 the family moved to Windsor. She graduated from Windsor High School in May of 1947.
In 1948, she married Darl Bates. Their union produced two children: Sandie and Rick. Dorothy and Darl were divorced in 1959. In 1965 Dorothy married the love of her life, Dave Reichert, and gained a stepdaughter, Sharon.
As Dave was in charge of the "physical plant", as it was known then, at UNC, Dave and Dorothy were involved in many campus activities, and even lived on campus in Patton House, which is now the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center at UNC.
In 1972, Dave and Dorothy moved into their dream home, situated on a bluff "out in the country" on 83rd Avenue. This home, which they both designed and planned, was their pride and joy, and had sweeping views of the northern Front Range.
In 1974, the couple opened Bear Paw Trading Post, a shop showcasing American Indian jewelry and southwestern-themed merchandise, in downtown Greeley. The store was extremely popular locally, but closed in 1984, one year after Dave Reichert's death. That same year, Dorothy purchased Miss B's Fashions & Lingerie in downtown Greeley. Dorothy and daughter Sandie maintained Miss B's until 1992, when Dorothy became an Account Executive for KFKA radio, working for/with Joe Tennessen until her retirement in 1996.
In addition to her businesses, Dorothy was very active in the Downtown Merchants Association and Downtown Development Authority; president of the Greeley Chorale Board of Directors, a member of PEO Chapter FZ, and involved in many other organizations in Greeley and Northern Colorado. She also enjoyed travel, with trips to Australia and New Zealand, and Austria and Eastern Europe with the Greeley Chorale, as well as journeys to Egypt, and Scandinavia, and cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and the Danube River, and a tour of New England. She and Dave also traveled Colorado and the Southwestern U.S. in their RV.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dave Reichert; son Rick Bates, stepdaughter Sharon Muir; daughter-in-law Lana Bates; grandson Allyn Sewald, and her "furry son", Lucky.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Sandie Sewald of Greeley; grandson Bryan Sewald (Monique) of Wellington; granddaughter Kara Bates, of Thornton; and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts can be made to PEO Chapter FZ, or the Greeley Chorale.
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