Dolores J. Usher
June 26, 1930 — July 31, 2014
Dolores Del Rio June Harford Usher, of Cedar Rapids, left us to be with the Lord, Thursday, July 31, 2014. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, at the funeral home. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her children, Marilyn Sue (Richard) Humphrey and Michael Thomas (Kathy) Usher; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Mark) Jacobson and their children, Parker and Kayla, Jason (Danielle) Humphrey and their children, Gavin and Avery, Chris (Letha) Usher and their children, Zachary and Ellie Rose and Brian (Nikki) Usher and their children, Coleton and Caden; and many loving family members and longtime friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 61 years, Harold A. “Mike”, who died November 26, 2009.
Dolores was born June 26, 1930, in Bertram, Iowa, the beloved daughter of Metha Grisham Harford and Bertie E. Harford. She married Harold A. “Mike” Usher on November 1, 1948, in the First Methodist Church, Iowa City, Iowa.
Dolores was educated in “one-room” country schools and was a 1948 graduate of Marion High School, Marion, Iowa, where she was the winner of various essay contests. During World War II, she was honored by the United States Navy for one of her essays and was presented a medal by Admiral William “Bull” Halsey in a special ceremony held in Cedar Rapids. Another of her essays brought recognition and honors by the State of Iowa, former Governor Blue and the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Following graduation, her working career included medical assistant, assistant social worker and professional secretary/administrative assistant in the Cedar Rapids area. She retired from Iowa Electric Light & Power Company (Alliant Energy) in 1986 after 18 years of service and from the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in 1997. During this latter employment, Dolores was privileged to work on the Museum team that brought the three Presidents to Cedar Rapids where they participated in the Museum’s 1995 formal dedication. Meeting Presidents Bill Clinton (USA), Vaclav Havel (Czech Republic) and Michal Kovac (Slovak Republic) and at a later event, Astronaut Captain Gene Cernan Commander of Apollo 17, was a few of the highlights in her working career.
She was an active member/volunteer of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, the Museum Guild and a past officer of the A.N. Palmer Chapter of Professional Secretaries International. Dolores was a member of Sharon United Methodist Church. Her faith ran deep and the loves of her life were family, friends, her work, music and reading. She was most joyous when she was helping others.
Memorials may be directed to Sharon United Methodist Church or the National Czech & Slovak Museum in memory of Dolores.
Survivors include her children, Marilyn Sue (Richard) Humphrey and Michael Thomas (Kathy) Usher; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Mark) Jacobson and their children, Parker and Kayla, Jason (Danielle) Humphrey and their children, Gavin and Avery, Chris (Letha) Usher and their children, Zachary and Ellie Rose and Brian (Nikki) Usher and their children, Coleton and Caden; and many loving family members and longtime friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 61 years, Harold A. “Mike”, who died November 26, 2009.
Dolores was born June 26, 1930, in Bertram, Iowa, the beloved daughter of Metha Grisham Harford and Bertie E. Harford. She married Harold A. “Mike” Usher on November 1, 1948, in the First Methodist Church, Iowa City, Iowa.
Dolores was educated in “one-room” country schools and was a 1948 graduate of Marion High School, Marion, Iowa, where she was the winner of various essay contests. During World War II, she was honored by the United States Navy for one of her essays and was presented a medal by Admiral William “Bull” Halsey in a special ceremony held in Cedar Rapids. Another of her essays brought recognition and honors by the State of Iowa, former Governor Blue and the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Following graduation, her working career included medical assistant, assistant social worker and professional secretary/administrative assistant in the Cedar Rapids area. She retired from Iowa Electric Light & Power Company (Alliant Energy) in 1986 after 18 years of service and from the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in 1997. During this latter employment, Dolores was privileged to work on the Museum team that brought the three Presidents to Cedar Rapids where they participated in the Museum’s 1995 formal dedication. Meeting Presidents Bill Clinton (USA), Vaclav Havel (Czech Republic) and Michal Kovac (Slovak Republic) and at a later event, Astronaut Captain Gene Cernan Commander of Apollo 17, was a few of the highlights in her working career.
She was an active member/volunteer of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, the Museum Guild and a past officer of the A.N. Palmer Chapter of Professional Secretaries International. Dolores was a member of Sharon United Methodist Church. Her faith ran deep and the loves of her life were family, friends, her work, music and reading. She was most joyous when she was helping others.
Memorials may be directed to Sharon United Methodist Church or the National Czech & Slovak Museum in memory of Dolores.
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