Dora James Obituary

Dora James passed away on January 15, 2013. She was 101 years old. Dora Kathleen Hetherington was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada on April 21, 1911 to Aubrey Hetherington and Arvella May Burtt Hetherington. Upon marrying Kenneth VanValkenburg James on June 1, 1940, she eagerly became an American citizen. They set up housekeeping in Knoxville, TN, later moving to Westwood, KS, Mercer Island, WN, San Francisco, CA and Raymore, MO. After the passing of Kenneth, in 1992 she moved to Colorado Springs, where she proudly became one of the first residents of the Village at Skyline. Dora was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years in September of 1989 and by an infant son, Merton Earle James II, in April of 1942. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen Arvella James Hartman and Willard Samuel Hartman. She will also be deeply missed by her grandson and his wife, James Frederick and Mana Izawa Hartman (San Diego, CA), as well as by her granddaughter and her husband, Deborah Kathleen Hartman Roever and Vincent Alexander Johann Roever (Hinsdale, IL), and great-grandsons Kai Emerson Hartman and Alexander Carl Ludwig Roever. Using her extensive skills with a needle, Dora was determined to create a "pretty" world. Even in her final days she was crocheting a snuggly blanket for the newest grandson. Her preferred project was cross-stitching colorful birds on fine "Aida" linen. She was also proficient at tatting, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, and dress-making. (Having made several formal gowns for her daughter and her college friends, she designed and made her daughter's wedding dress as well as all the bridesmaids' dresses and her own mother-of-the-bride dress. It was quite a summer!) A memorial service will be held on February 2 at 3:00 pm in the Skyline Room, Building 3, Village at Skyline. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Skyline Cares Fund (c/o Village at Skyline, 2365 Patriot Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80904), which she actively supported.