Dollie Irene Walker Woolum

Dollie Irene Conner Walker-Woolum was born July 8, 1913 to Amanda and Elmer T. Conner, 6 miles north of Vilas Co. in Baca County. Dollie was the 4th of 5 children. She always told us her father named her Dollie because when he first looked at her he said “shes’s a perfect little doll, we will name her Dollie“. Her father died when she was quite young, and her Mother then married Shurell West and 2 more brothers joined the family. Growing up on the plains and helping her mother and older brother (Sylvester Conner) and sister (Evelyn Conner) with chores, taking care of children and walking two miles to school filled her younger days. Dollie actually completed the 8th grade twice, because it was not possible for her to go to High School without leaving home and she wanted to stay and help her Mother. She has always been very close to all her family. At the age of 17 she married Jerry C. Walker, September 11, 1930. They struggled through the dirty 30’s in a house about 10 miles south of Vilas. In 1935 their first daughter Della Jean was born. She was named after Jerry’s mother Della. Five years later their 2nd daughter was born, Pearl Eileen, they named her after a dear sister-in-law Pearl Rose. In 1941 Jerry and Dollie and their 2 girls moved to the home place 7 miles south of Vilas. They were very busy farming, ranching and raising 2 little girls. A few years later they lost a little boy before birth. Then to their joy in 1947, a third daughter was born, Jeraldine Jane, named after Jerry. Dollie & Jerry also helped raise her two youngest brothers, Ralph and Bueford West and her oldest sister’s daughter, Iva Marie Ward. Also Jerry’s younger brothers, Donald and Jesse Walker and several others through the years . Her home has always been open to any family member that needed a place to stay and most probably would have some wonderful home fried chicken! In 1966 they built a home just out of Vilas. This made it a little farther for Jerry to go to the farm but they loved it there. It was closer for Dollie to work in the church and she devoted her time to teaching Sunday school, Bible schools and numerous things for the church. When Grandchildren started coming along it was another one of the most joyous times of their lives. They loved having them visit and stay with them. Jerry and Dollie both really liked to travel so they would take off on numerous trips on a moments notice if they happened to get a rain. They liked to visit family and see new places. One of their most favorite was visiting brothers Ralph (Thelma) and Bueford in the state of WA. Later years they were able to spend a few winter’s in south Texas where they loved to walk the beach, collect shells, fish and visit with friends. In 1979 Dollie lost her first love Jerry. They were married for 49 years. Then in 1981 she married Wayne E. Woolum and her family was extended. She acquired a step daughter (Dici) and three more Grandchildren (Tommy, Terri and Deanna). Dollie and Wayne lived on his ranch West of Pritchett several years before buying a home South of Springfield. They were married for 26 years. They both loved to work for the church and the Gideons, of which Dollie held several offices. Dollie had been married a total of 75 years before losing Wayne in 2007. Dollie always told the story of accepting Jesus at the early age of 6 kneeling at her Mother’s knee. She has always lived to serve God and other people. Even when she and Wayne had to go into assisted living she was always reaching out to others. She spent her last 4 years in the nursing home in Springfield and still touched other people’s lives every day. Her most precious things in life were her family, serving God, working for the Gideon’s, loving Jerry and then Wayne. She devoted her time to her family and friends. One brother survives her, Ralph (Thelma) West of Oak Harbor, WA . She leaves to celebrate her life her 3 daughters, Della Jean (Jim) Canfield of Walsh CO, Pearl Eileen (Larry) Hall of Vilas, CO and Gold Canyon, AZ, Jeraldine Jane (Bill) Glendening of Strasburg, CO. Her Grandchildren Ronny (Kim) Tate Walsh, CO, Dan (Emilia) Tate, Lamar CO, Charon Canfield of Garden City, KS, Kelley (Steven) Pace of Amarillo, TX, Kimberley (Calvin) Murray of Roosevelt, UT, Kristi (Rick) Augustson of Castle Rock, CO. Great Grandchildren, Garrett (Amanda) Tate, Winsor, CO, Kyle Tate, Walsh, CO, Ginger Tate of Amarillo, TX, Chrislyn, Jamin and Isaac Tate of Lamar, CO, Sawyer and Parker Pace, Amarillo, TX, Kaci and Jordan Murray, Roosevelt, Utah, Jonathan and Toni Augustson, Castle Rock, CO. Also many nieces, nephews, family and friends, and she loved each and every one of you. We will all have special memories to carry with us as she lived a wonderful life of 96 years….. And she always said….. I love Baca County…… She had a good life here! We will all miss her…………….