Doris I (Briggs) Akey

Doris Ilene (Briggs) Akey went to be with the Lord on November 28, 2017 in Wray, Colorado at the age of 89.  She was born on June 17, 1928 to Ralph and Fern Howard Briggs in Heartstrong, Colorado. As a young child, she then moved with her parents and older sister, Phyllis, to the Briggs Ranch on the Arickaree River east of Beecher Island. She attended country schools until moving to Wray to stay with her Grandmother Howard so she could attend high school. She graduated with the class of 1946 and shortly after married the love of her life, Malcolm Akey. They made their first home on the Briggs Ranch and their son, Ronn, was born on the ranch. They later moved to the George Akey farm south of Wray where their daughter, Phyllis, was born. They would continue to live and work on the farm for the next 60 years until retiring from the farm in 2005 when they moved into Wray.  She and Malcolm later moved to The Towers Assisted Living Facility where they spent the remainder of their lives together.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt.  When her children were growing up, Doris was involved in many of their activities. She was a den mother for Cub Scouts and along with her husband, Malcolm, was involved in scouting at the local level and district level. She was the first woman to be awarded the Copper Coyote, which is given at the district level for outstanding service to scouting. She was active in 4-H activities when her children participated and never missed a game or wrestling match her son, Ronn, was in. She spent many hours taking her daughter, Phyllis, for her therapies at Children's Hospital in Denver and her dedication to the assigned therapies for Phyllis was truly a work of love.  She was an excellent seamstress making most of the clothes for herself and her daughter and later many of her square dance dresses when she and Malcolm became avid square dancers.  She also taught children's Sunday School for many years when her children were small believing that it is the responsibility of the parents to fill these positions. During her children's elementary years, she became room mother of her children's classes after her children often volunteered her for this position, as they knew she would do it willingly. She had a special bond with her three grandchildren and they spent much time together on the farm. She celebrated the successes and accomplishments of her husband, children and grandchildren with great pride.

Following graduation from high school, she taught at Antelope a one-room school in the Rosenkrans District located on the Ralph Briggs ranch east of Beecher Island.  In the mid 1950's, Doris worked at the Dairy King and Coad's Flower Shop and later worked at the Yuma County Treasurer's Office. She then went to work at Equitable Saving and Loan as a teller and worked her way up to manager and assistant vice-president of the company retiring after more than 30 years with Equitable in 1996. She was also recognized by Who's Who Among Top Executives shortly before her retirement.

Doris and Malcolm were avid square dancers spending many nights a week traveling to nearby towns with their friends to dance. In addition to square dancing they also enjoyed round dancing.  Often times while she and Malcolm danced, the entire floor would stop to watch them as they round danced.  It was a time spent with many good friends over the years.  They twice went on square dancing trips to Hawaii and where they danced at 30,000 feet and on the beach. She enjoyed her time in her flower gardens and always looked forward to the first homegrown tomato of the season.

She was a long time member of the Wray United Methodist Church serving not only as a Sunday School teacher but also as a greeter along side her husband, Malcolm, and was the secretary of the Administrative Board for many years.  She also served as chairperson for the United Methodist Scholarship fund for many years.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Malcolm, her parents, her sister, Phyllis, and several brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law, two nephews and three nieces.

She leaves to mourn her son, Ronn and Carolyn, and her daughter, Phyllis and Tom Gregg, all of Wray, her three grandchildren: Brian and Nici Akey of Holyoke, Cynthia and Ryan Kiesel of Escondido, California and Jason and Alisa Akey of Loveland and 5 great grandchildren, Gavin, Aiden and Payton Kiesel and Malcolm and Evalyn Akey in addition to two step-grandchildren, Katheryn and Anthony Pranno of Highlands Ranch and Kent and Lindy Gregg of Peyton, Colorado and eleven step-great grand-children, Wyatt, Katlin, MaKenna and Sloane Bishop, Shane, Tyler and Jordyn Pranno and Jay Henry, Trevor, Masyn and Emebet Gregg and one step-great-great grandson, Kyler Bishop.  She also leaves three sisters, Barbara Schafer and Ardith and Fred Kerst of Ft. Collins and Joan and Gary Updike of Spring Hill, Kansas and a brother, Charlie and Linda Briggs of Wray and their families, one sister-in-law, Erma Akey, of Boise, Idaho, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation/Viewing will be held Friday, December 1, 2017 at Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 2, 2017, 2:00 p.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado with Pastor Ben Wentworth officiating. Memorials can be given in her name to the Wray United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, 500 Blake Street, Wray, Colorado 80758. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.