Jerry Donley Obituary

Donley
Jerry Donley
February 17, 1930
February 9, 2023

Jerry Alan Donley
February 17, 1930
February 9, 2023
Jerry Donley was born in Denver, Colorado, and lived on the family ranch in Larkspur for seven years. He is predeceased by his parents Richard and Mildred Donley and his brother Richard. He graduated Beloit College and received his J.D. from the University of Michigan.
Jerry moved to Colorado in 1953 and joined the District Attorney's office serving as the first legal services attorney. He was promptly drafted and served 2 years at Seattle's Fort Lawton. Then he worked several years as an El Paso County assistant district attorney before entering private practice with HayDen Kane. Over 61 years, he built a highly respected practice, emphasizing insurance defense, estate planning and arbitration. He fully retired in 2017 as a partner with his son Jack and their firm Donley Law PC.
Jerry was blessed to have two remarkable women in his life. Jerry married his college sweetheart Dorothy "Dot" Mayhew and they raised 3 rambunctious, hockey playing boys. Together, they were leaders in the First Presbyterian Church and Colorado Springs. Through their leadership they left a legacy that will have a lasting positive impact. They had been married for 47 years when Dot passed away in 2001.
In 2002 he married Christel Miller. For the next 21 years they shared their like passion for track and field traveling the world participating in hundreds of meets. They were nicknamed the "First Couple of Masters Track and Field." As leaders in USA Masters Track and Field, both received numerous awards highlighted by the David Paine Distinguished Service Award in 2018. They lived their life extremely grateful for each other, family and friends.
As a gifted pole vaulter at Beloit College, his jump of 13' 9" inches remained the record for over 40 years leading to induction to the Beloit Hall of Honor. In 1971, his boy's interest in pole vaulting reignited his passion for vaulting. He took first place in hundreds of Masters Track and Field meets including 13 World Championships in the Pole Vault. His best Masters result was a vault of 13'5" at 48 years of age. In addition to participating as an athlete, he served as an administrator, meet director, official, coach & volunteer. For example, he chaired the USATF Masters Track & Field from 1982 to 1989. Donley also competed in the long jump, hurdles, shot put, dashes, and decathlon. He was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 1999. Last year, equipped with a pacemaker and fighting Parkinson's disease, he won the men's 90-94 year old shot put at the Masters Outdoor Championships.
Jerry served in virtually every leadership role at First Presbyterian Church except minister. One of his proudest roles was as the 6th grade Sunday school teacher which he and Dot taught for decades. His community volunteer activities included Boys Club, Kiwanis, Mariners Club, JCs, D11 Accountability and Pikes Peak Roadrunners.
He is survived by his children Charles (Valerie), Jack (Doris), David "Chad;" his grandchildren Christopher, Anne, Tiffany, Kline, Melinda and Laura (predeceased); and great grandchildren; Ari and Lincoln. His bonus family with Christel included Nils (Toyan), Sonja (Rainer - predeceased), Gunnar (Lisa), Steven (Lisa), and Douglas (predeceased) and grandchildren Lucas, Devin, Siena, Anika, Maximus, Stephanie and Grant.
Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on March 3 at 1PM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, Beloit College, Men and Women's Track, or University of Michigan Law School, for exemplary students who need financial assistance.