Ora Lee Busby

Ora “Lee” Busby (89) passed away January 22nd, 2015, in Greeley, Colorado. Ora Lee Cunningham was born March 12th, 1925, to James Arias Cunningham and Leona Grace (Hutchins) Cunningham in Sanford, Colorado. Lee grew up in the San Luis Valley and graduated from Sanford Public High School. Following graduation, Lee moved to Denver where she worked for a telephone company as a switchboard operator during WW2. Later, she worked at Hopper Furs.
While working in Denver, Lee met Mervin Carl Busby. They were married August 23rd, 1949, in Burlington, Colorado. Establishing their home in the Armel community, they eventually took over the homestead farm and lived there until retiring to St. Francis, Kansas, in 1993. In addition to helping on the farm and raising three daughters, Lee drove a school bus and worked at flower shops in Wray and later St. Francis. During the early 1970s, she and Mervin ran the Bonny Dam Marina. She was famous for her “Dam” cinnamon rolls. Lee also enjoyed golfing, bowling, community clubs, and card clubs.
Lee is survived by daughter Jeanne (Les) Gelvin of Fort Collins, CO, son-in-law Freeman Morris of Idalia, CO, and son-in-law Jim Miller of Mooresville, NC. Grandchildren are Erika (Bryan) Beckner of Wray, CO, Josh (Julie) Morris of Idalia, CO, Casey (Anne) Gelvin of Covina, CA, Libby (Willie) Uhing of Chadron, NE, Kyle Gelvin of Greeley, CO, Ross (Jodi) Morris of Idalia, CO, C.J. (Jenn) Miller of Mooresville, NC, and Luke (Ashley) Miller of Mooresville, NC. Step grandchildren are Kristen Trussel of Scottsbluff, NE, Dixie Preston of Windsor, CO, Nikki (JimBob Cheek) Gelvin of Wray, CO, and Bobby (Sarah) Miller of Vancouver, WA. She is also survived by her sister Deanie Goodnight of Westminster, CO, and her sister-in-law Carol (Dick) Shaver of Thornton, CO. Lee also enjoyed her many great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She is proceed in death by her husband Mervin Carl Busby, daughters Diana Morris and Shirley Miller, sister Donna Harvey, parents, a sister-in-law, and three brother-in-laws.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 10:30 a.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado with Jack Soehner officiating. Interment will be held in the Armel Cemetery in Armel, Colorado. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Plains, P.O. Box 365, Wray, Colorado 80758. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.