Dessie Pearl Neill

Dessie was born in Valentine, Nebraska, on March 31, 1925, to Charles and Minnie Schriner. She was preceded in death by her husband Victor M. Neill (Vic), who passed in 1994.

Dessie was the youngest of ten children, Chester, Herbert, Wilbert, Delmar, Glenn, Floyd, Harvey, Eula, and Zada. Dessie spent most of her childhood in Marquette, Kansas. After the passing of her mother in 1942, she moved to Denver to live with her brother Herbert. She soon started her career at Montgomery Wards, where she worked for 35 years. She met Vic in late 1953, and they fell madly in love and wed in Raton, New Mexico, six weeks later.

Dessie had many interests and hobbies. She loved babies and was a foster mom for numerous children. In 1959, she and Vic adopted an eight-month-old baby girl and named her Cindy. Dessie was blessed with four grandchildren, Christina, Sara, Wade and Angie, and two great-grandchildren Reina and Sean.

Dessie loved doing crafts and enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting, and making bookmarks for the local library. She loved watching the children sift through the bookmarks finding the perfect one. She also loved to read, and at age 18 started to keep detailed records of the books she completed, totaling more than 2,000!

Dessie was a friend to all and spent many years as a member of an Adoptive Mothers Club where she acquired lifelong friends. Dessie had a passion for helping others and befriended many older women in need at a local nursing home. She was a willing companion and assisted them in any way she could, including taking them to doctor appointments and buying them clothes. She wanted to make sure each one of them felt taken care of. Dessie was good at making people feel special and loved. Her love, service, and compassion for others have left a legacy that will not be forgotten.

A celebration of Dessie’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 13th, at Olinger-Crown Hill, 7777 W 29th Ave, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.