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Dorothy Louise D’Avignon, born February 4, 1926, in Leoti, Kansas, passed away on May 6, 2016, in Del Norte, Colorado, surrounded by her family.

Dorothy was the oldest daughter of Bradley Austin and Florence (Adams) Austin. Her family moved to Canon City, Colorado, in 1935, then to Monte Vista, in 1938. She was raised on a farm in the Bowen Community. She graduated from Monte Vista High School in 1944, then attended Blair Business College in Colorado Springs, later working for a doctor. This is also where she met her future husband, Virgil D’Avignon, on New Year’s Eve, 1945, when they both rode in the same cab during a storm. They discovered they were both from the San Luis Valley, and after getting to know each other, were married twenty-six days later on January 26, 1946. Later they moved back to Monte Vista, where they spent their life together.

Dorothy went to work as a bookkeeper for the Monte Vista Potato Growers in 1948, where she worked for 36 years until retirement. In 1985, she became co-owner of 3D Office Products with her husband and daughter. After they sold the business, she spent the next 20 years very involved in the lives of her granddaughters, and later helped care for her parents and her husband in their elder years. She was an Independent Skin Care Consultant for Jafra Cosmetics for almost 20 years. Interests included gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, and books on tape. She also enjoyed doing small household renovation projects. Eventually she lost most of her sight due to macular degeneration, but surprised her family by learning to sew mostly by feel and made several baby quilts for her great-grandchildren. She was also an avid football fan who knew about players from all teams, but was always true to the Denver Broncos whether they won or lost; one of her last goals was to see Peyton Manning lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl win. Dorothy was a very giving and caring person who never minded putting the needs of others before her own; she was not one to turn away anyone who needed help.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her brother, Lloyd Alan Austin, her parents and her husband.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Raina (James) Bowsher, granddaughters Amanda (Corey) Rehburg, Chelsea (Nathan) Venable, great-granddaughters Madison and Caedence Rehburg, sister Lola Ashton, and brother Charles (Joan) Austin, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, all of whom will miss her greatly.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 13, 2016, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista. A memorial service will be held May 14, 2016, at 10:00 am at the Monte Vista United Methodist Church, followed by graveside services at the San Luis Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Colorado State Veterans Center Restoration fund or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation and may be made in care of the funeral home office in memory of Dorothy.

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