Laveta Mae Donly

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…….