Dorene Phelps

Dorene was born in a dugout on the family homestead near Gray, Oklahoma to Earl and Bessie (Ballard) Pierce on February 18, 1918. She was the 4th of their 9 children – Betha, Eva, Adella, Dorene, Escal, Hazel, Evan, Marvin, and Aubrey. We make mention of them here because her Oklahoma family was so very important to Dorene.

The family moved to a farm southwest of Beaver, Oklahoma where they lived for many years. Dorene attended Beaver High School, graduating as the class valedictorian in 1937. This was the time of the Dust Bowl days and the Great Depression, and Dorene shared many stories of what life was like in the Oklahoma Panhandle then.

She won a scholarship and attended business college in Wichita, Kansas. Her sister, Adella accompanied her to Wichita where they both worked for various families while Dorene attended school. After graduation she returned to Beaver where she worked in the Beaver County Courthouse as the Deputy County Clerk.

On November 22, 1945, Dorene married Warren Glenn Phelps, also of Beaver, Oklahoma soon after he returned from serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater in World War II. They had two children, SuAnne and Gary, and lived in Beaver until 1951 when they moved to Wichita where Warren was employed by Boeing and Hughes Aircraft. In 1955, he was transferred and the family moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico where Warren worked at Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands. They moved again in 1961, this time to Greeley, Colorado and Warren pursued other business ventures. Dorene always supported Warren in whatever pursuit he chose, and often worked alongside him as a bookkeeper. Warren passed at the age of 59 in 1980. With the help of her family, friends, neighbors, the church community, and her own fierce determination, Dorene was able to live in the family home until 2004. During this time Dorene frequently visited her children and grandchildren wherever they resided – Idaho Springs and Denver, Colorado as well as Arcosanti in Arizona, and Seattle, Washington.

During Dorene’s 43 years in Greeley she was an active member of the First Church of the Nazarene. With her dear friend, Buelah Bear, Dorene helped cater many social events there. Dorene also used her flower arranging abilities to provide flower displays for the church. She formed lasting friendships with church and neighborhood members, including Buelah Bear, the Tranbargers, the Carlsons, and the Scrivners, among others.

Dorene was an incredible gardener and her yard and gardens were the pride of the neighborhood. Her love of home and garden was handed down to her children.

In 2004, she sold her home herself to a fellow church member and moved to Columbine Village near Olde Town Arvada, Colorado to be closer to family. Although she did not have her Greeley garden, she made sure her porch was filled with flowers. Every spring she would plant pots with beautiful geraniums and roses.

In 2012, Dorene moved to Sandalwood Manor in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and resided there until her death. At Sandalwood, Dorene was known for her singing, always ending the hymn on a high note. She considered all those who cared for her there to be friends.

Dorene is survived by her children – SuAnne Sumpter (David Torres) of Denver, Colorado and Gary (MaryAnn) Phelps of Westminster, Colorado; grandchildren – Tiffani Stout of Morrison, Colorado and Jeremy Sumpter of Morrison, Colorado; and great-grandchildren – Alexandra Witt of Lakewood, Colorado and Zackary Stout of Longmont, Colorado; her brother Evan Neal Pierce of Amarillo, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Sandalwood Manor and the staff of Compassus Hospice of Denver for their loving care.

Without the social programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Dorene would not have had the quality of life these programs afforded her in her later years.

Memorial services will be held at the First Church of the Nazarene, 2515 W. 16th Street, Greeley, CO 80634 on Thursday, December 12th at 11:00 a.m. with interment to follow immediately at Sunset Memorial Gardens (Good Shepherd), 3400 W. 28th Street, Greeley, CO 80634.

Donations and flowers in Dorene’s name can be sent to the First Church of the Nazarene, Greeley, Colorado.