Dorletta Mae O'Connor

Dorletta (Dottie) O'Connor was born in Mott, North Dakota on February 28, 1929 to John Swindler and Emma Flaig. She attended grade school in Mott until she was 13 years old, when she moved to the northern Oregon area with her mother, brother Roger and sister Shirley. She was very close to her maternal grandmother, Christina Schaible Flaig, who passed away when Dorletta was eleven years old. They moved to Dallas, Oregon a few years later and eventually settled in Glenbrook, Oregon. She graduated from Monroe Union High School in 1947 and married Clarence (Curley) Kinney on September 19, 1947 at Bellfountain Community Church. Curley and his father, Charley Kinney, built their first home up Bunker Hill Road in Bellfountain, Oregon. In December 1948 a daughter Sheryll was born; in June 1951 a son Gary, and in February 1953 a daughter Brenda was born. In 1956 the family moved to Fox Hollow Road in the south Eugene hills where they met Everett and Helen Grife who became lifelong friends. Their son Scott was born in June 1959, which completed the family. The family moved to Cottage Grove in 1959, then in 1967 the family moved to Corvallis, and Curley started Corvallis Drilling Company. Dorletta was secretary and a member of the board of directors of the company for many years. Curley passed away on October 28, 1978, after 31 years of marriage. Dorletta married Robert Thoma on January 25, 1982. He passed away April 3, 1982. On June 26, 1983 she married Charles "Pat" O'Connor and they were married 28 years until his passing on October 31, 2011. Dottie lived in the Corvallis area until her death on March 11, 2013. She spent the last week of her life at her son Scott's home surrounded by loving family members and the beauty of nature outside her window. Dorletta was affectionately known as "Dottie" by her family and friends. She spent a lot of time in her vegetable garden and yard, pulling weeds, cutting blackberries, burning brush and planting flowers. She generously gave of the abundance of pears, grapes and blueberries from her back yard. Scott always picked her the first ladyslippers of the year. She had parakeets and canaries, and fed wild birds in every place she lived. Dottie loved to bake and always had goodies and coffee for guests when they came to visit. At family get-togethers, she would make sure everyone went away with a gift, many times making a game of it (pick a number) and never expected anything in return. She always lovingly gave from the heart. She loved to dance and travelled to the Crow Grange for Saturday night dances. She and Curley square danced and bowled. She loved poetry, travelling, camping and attending well drilling conventions and activities. She did a lot of fishing with her husband Pat. She was involved in the Moose Lodge / Ladies of the Moose, and did a lot of volunteer work there over the years. She was a hard worker, always kept busy, and was a devoted care giver. She especially loved spending time with her family. Gary stopped by frequently after his cancer treatments in the last two years. Dorletta was preceded in death by her mother Emma in 1977, her step-father Pete in 1985, and her father John in 1990; brother Roger Ross in 1998, sister Shirley Vineyard in 2012, and son Gary Kinney in 2012. She is survived by her children Sheryll Kinney-Ballard (Bob), Brenda Hull (Ken), and Scott Kinney (Cheryl), all of Bellfountain; daughter-in-law Norma Kinney of Philomath; brother Larry Ross-Day (Kathi) of Cottage Grove, sister Charlotte Baker (Mike) of Eugene; grandsons Jeremy Hull (Christina) and Jimmy Hull (Mandy) of Monroe, Christopher Kinney of Bend, Clinton Kinney (Stephanie) and Craig Kinney of Corvallis; brother-in-law Lloyd Vineyard of Albany, sister-in-law Connie Earley (John) of Corvallis; great-grandchildren Taurus, Brittany and Morgan of Bend; Brandon, Chetley, Austen, Cay-lee Ann and Kativa Maree of Corvallis; Emily, Hayden, Madison and Hadley of Monroe; cousins dear to her - Ruby, Vivian, Alice, Ann, Ernest, Marlys, Bernadine, Marlene, Fritzi, Kay (Paul), Ginger (Kenneth) and Cecil (Lynne); and many nieces and nephews. Jerry and Marilyn Schmidt were great friends, among many others. Dottie's children would like to express their sincere appreciation to all who have shared their love and support in this difficult time. A graveside memorial will be held on May 11, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Alpine Cemetery, Alpine, Oregon. Memorial donations can be made to Benton County Dial-A-Bus, Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center or Willamette Wildlife Rehabilitation in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 NW 5th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330, (541) 757-8141.

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Dorletta Mae O'Connor

February 28, 1929 - March 11, 2013