Obituary: Doyle Cornelius Olree

Doyle Cornelius Olree

March 12, 1926 ~ Jan. 9, 2020

Doyle Cornelius was born to Cornelius and Nellie Olree on March 12, 1926. He grew up with his eight brothers and sisters: Jake, Pauline, Thelma, Lois, Bernice, Sarah, Sue and Kenneth in the small town of Graford, Texas.

Doyle met the love of his life, Mary Louise Montgomery, at a basketball game between their two small-town teams. Lou used to tell the story that she spotted Doyle sitting with another girl and began shooting spit wads in his direction. She told her friend that the next time Doyle came to town, he would be coming to see her. Doyle and Lou were married on July 1, 1944, when he was 18 and she was 16. They celebrated more than 74 years of marriage before Lou’s passing on Sept. 14, 2018. Doyle’s heart was broken and he longed to be reunited with his beautiful bride in their heavenly home.

Doyle was sworn into the U.S. Navy on June 30, 1944, in Dallas, Texas. He served from 1944-1946 as a Seaman 1st Class aboard the USS LST 866 Landing Ship Tank. He was part of the fleet that invaded Okinawa, and his ship crew was awarded a Combat Star for their actions in World War II.

Doyle and Lou left Texas in 1946 after his return from the war, living in northwestern Colorado and raising their family in Rangely. They were blessed with four children: Doyle Jr. (Sherry) of Montrose; Donna (Barry) of Wright, Wyoming; David (Sue) of Grand Junction; and Paula of Jenks, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren: Jennifer, Jolene, Kyle, Rebecca, Jeff, Amanda, Sara and Daniel; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Doyle spent 30 years working for Chevron USA in the oil fields of Rangely, Colorado; Flat Lake, Montana and Windsor, Colorado, retiring in 1985. Doyle and Lou moved to Palisade after retiring and spent many wonderful years traveling in their motorhome, going fishing and taking a trip to Hawaii (the honeymoon they never had) and enjoying their family.

Doyle enjoyed fishing, golfing and watching the Denver Broncos. Doyle was a faithful member of the Church of Christ, attending services regularly throughout his lifetime.

On Jan. 9, 2020, Doyle Cornelius Olree peacefully left this world behind, entering the Kingdom of his Lord and Savior and reuniting with the love of his life.

Our family would like to offer a special thanks to Doyle’s sister, Sarah Gabriel, and niece, Pam Oldham, for their never-ending love and care for him, especially over the past 16 months.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mountain States Children’s Home, 14780 N. 107th St, Longmont, Colorado 80504, or HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction.

Visitation was held at the Palisade Funeral Home on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Grand Junction Church of Christ, 2893 Patterson Rd., Grand Junction, Colorado. Burial services were conducted at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m.