Margaret Dores

Margaret (Peggy) Dores was born in Grand Junction, Colorado to parents Carmen and Alvin Dores on September 23, 1956. As a child with a disability and no accessible schools in Grand Junction, she had to leave her parents and siblings and move to Jamestown, ND, to attend the Crippled Children's School there. She graduated high school in 1975. She enrolled in a two-year junior college in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota in 1975, then transferred to the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1977 where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication. She began full time work as a secretary at the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in 1979, then transferred to UND in 1981 for what would be many years of work in several departments on campus. Problematic health conditions forced her to end full-time employment at UND.

Peggy was an active member of Sharon Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. She spent time with friends and worked hard to live independently and drive a car. She loved reading mysteries, doing crossword and sudoku puzzles, crocheting and knitting, gardening, and listening to 70s music. If travel would have been easier, she always wanted to visit South America, Africa, Spain and both polar caps. At the invitation of the Holter family, she spent many summer hours at their lake cabin on Pine Lake, near Gonvick, Minnesota. As a small child, her life-long love of animals began, bringing her much happiness spending as much time as she could with the pets of friends.

In June 2018, after two preceding years of intense work and preparation, she moved back to Grand Junction to be with her family. She looked forward to again living independently, beginning a new life within the city of her birth and joining her large, loving, and extended family. Her immediate family at this time included brothers Richard (Jodi), Rudy, Ernest, and Felipe Dores. Her brothers gave Peggy so much happiness, so many laughs, and so many great times together. The many nieces and nephews for whom she was “Aunt Peggy” brought her immeasurable joy and smiles. Whether it was football/birthday parties, salsa/jam making, concert/festival attendance, and family picnics/gatherings, she cherished every minute spent with them all.

She was also blessed to be included in the Holter family of Grand Forks—Arlene and Alvin Holter (deceased) and their children: sons— Jim, Jon (and spouses), daughters Judy, Julainne, Joanne, Janell (and spouses). Janell was her best friend for over 40 years. Peggy was included in many family activities which gave her life balance, joy, and acceptance. The children and grandchildren from this family gave her life many laughs and many memories.

In Denver of 1971 while undergoing a year of surgeries, Peggy met the Mulqueen family of Denver, George (deceased) Mary and their children:—son Mark, daughters Jan, Diana, Sally and Joan (and spouses). They opened their hearts, lives and home, to include her in countless family activities. Their assistance and support was immeasurable and it too changed her life in so many ways. Mary was instrumental in helping Peggy come to Grand Junction in 1983, giving her a much needed chance to reconnect with her loved ones.

Special friends: Francine McClendon, Maureen & Joe Johnson, Joan Mulqueen and Kelly Halverson (deceased), shared and knew well the struggle and hardships of a life lived with disabilities.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Danny, Augustine, Frank and sister Rose.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Dores family.