Doris Frances Roddy

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. May 15 at Crossroads United Methodist Church.

Ms. Roddy was a payroll clerk.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Jane Mulnix of Mesa and Susan K. Harris of Palisade, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions to Crossroads United Methodist Church, 599 30 Road, Grand Junction 81504; or HopeWest & Hospice, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.

Doris F. Harris Roddy

February 22, 1921 - May 5, 2014

The daughters of long time Grand Valley resident, Doris Harris Roddy, announce the death of their mother on May 5, 2014.

Doris was born in Camp Point, Illinois. In the mid 1930's the Clarence and Emma Hunt family, with their four daughters, and three sons moved west looking for jobs in the fruit and building trade. They made a stop in Fruitvale, Colorado and found work. (Doris was the last surviving member of her family.) It was here she met and marred Edwin E. Harris. Ed was part of a family of seven who moved west from Arkansas looking for jobs in those depression years.

Doris and Ed married in 1939, and in time, with hard work, were able to buy 12 acres south of Clifton and start an apple and peach farm and build their home. They had two daughters, Mary Jane (Ronald) Mulnix of Mesa, CO, and Suzan K. Harris of Palisade. In addition to Janie, Ron and Suzan, Doris is survived by her three grandsons, Brett, Bart and Damon Mulnix; six great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter. She also has several nieces and nephews.

Less than ten years after her marriage, Doris was left a widow when Edwin died of heart failure. Despite the arguments from both sides of the family, who wanted her to sell her farm and move ""into town"" Doris chose to raise her girls in the country. She still owned her home and property when she died.

Doris would not have liked being called a feminist but there's no question she was a strong and independent woman all of her life. During the years her daughters were growing up, she managed her farm selling her crops, worked full time and frequently had to stand up to the male dominated world particularly other fruit growers who told her she needed to get out of the business.

Following her first husband's death and divorce from two other husbands, Doris worked as a bookkeeper for several Grand Junction firms including the US Bank. She was most proud of her 25 years as payroll clerk for Union Carbide from which she retired in 1981.

Throughout her life, Doris was an active member of the Clifton Methodist Church (now Crossroads Methodist). For many years she served as the church treasurer or bookkeeper. She also did similar work for the Grand Valley Irrigation District. Doris loved to dance and for many years belonged to a square dance club. But she frequently said how much she missed the great ""swing years!""

At her request, Doris has been cremated and her ashes will be buried in a private family service at the foot of Edwin Harris' grave at Orchard Mesa Cemetery. A celebration of her life is May 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Crossroads Methodist Church.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, any memorials be sent to Crossroads Methodist Church or HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on May 12, 2014