Doris E. Wilkins

Evergreen, Colorado, at the age of 96. She was born on April 12, 1924 in Oklahoma City,

Oklahoma, the only child of Henry and Opal Ford.

April 12, 1924 - November 3, 2020: date of her birth - the date of her death. What matters most

of all is the “dash” between those years. That dash stands for the time that Doris spent on this earth. Those who knew and loved her know what that little line is worth. It doesn’t matter what she owned: the car, the house, the clothes or the cash. What matters is how she lived, loved and spent her “dash”. She filled that dash with lots of life and the things she enjoyed: painting, hat making and especially treasure

hunting at thrift stores and flea markets.

She was married to Donald Wilkins of Grand Island, Nebraska. They met during WWII in Long

Beach, California. Together, they raised four children; three girls and one boy over several

states: Nebraska, California, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. She

and Don lived in Dallas, Texas for over 30 years raising their youngest daughter and helping

with several grandchildren. Their marriage that lasted 59. Don preceded her in death on April

14, 2000 in Carrollton, Texas.

Doris was a member of Eastern Star and the Red Hat Ladies. She was a creative and prolific

hat maker. She and her friends wore dozens of the Red Hats she made. She was also an

accomplished artist in watercolor and china painting. One of her watercolor paintings was

recognized in 2020 by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of Colorado during their Making Memories

Artist Auction in Denver.

She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and GiGi (great-grandmother). She

is survived in Colorado by; daughter Robyn Mangham (Jimmy), grandson Kaleb Horsley;

granddaughter Katy Wafaie (Tareq), and great-grandchildren, Woodson and Ellis. In Texas, she

is survived by daughter, Kay Cartwright, granddaughter Lara Teran (Kevin) and great

grandchildren, Amanda, Nicolas and Nathan; daughter Penny Cadwell (Gary), granddaughter

Nicole Conley (Josh) and great granddaughter, Camyrn. In Arizona, she is survived by

grandson Chris Glade (Bridget), great grandchildren, Jonas and JoHanna. In Georgia she is

survived by her grandson Robbie Horsley. In California she is survived by her son Russell

Wilkins and grandson, Preston. She will be in our memories and hearts always and forever.

Doris was preceded i n death by her granddaughter, Gretchen Glade, on March 3, 2020.

She will be l aid to rest next to her husband in Grand Island, Nebraska. A family grave-side

memorial i s planned for this Spring.