Dolores Donovan

Dolores Dickey Donovan, 69, went home to be with the Lord on June 9, 2006. She was born on January 22, 1937 in Houston Texas. A lifelong resident of Huntsville, she graduated from Huntsville High School in 1954. During her business career she worked for several local establishments as a bookkeeper, retiring in November 2005 from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Commissary and Trust Fund. Dolores was a woman with deep faith and love for her Lord. A member of Cook Springs Baptist Church, she served as the church treasurer and as a Sunday school teacher. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who deeply loved and cared for her family. As a lung cancer survivor, Dolores was an inspiration and gave encouragement to those in need. Dolores profoundly touched so many lives by her kind words, her cards of encouragement, her little jokes in her soft voice and her strong faith. She will be sorely missed by all who were blessed enough to have known her. Dolores was preceded in death by her father, Travis Lee Dickey and her mother, Jesse Margaret Heaton Dickey. She is survived by her loving husband and soul mate, Ralph Donovan, Sr.; stepmother Viola Dickey; son Eddie Sheffield and wife Deborah; daughter Shana Cross and husband Bill; daughter Sheila Gaskins and husband Gene; daughter Becky Dunlap and husband Randy; stepdaughter Donna Crocker; stepdaughter Susan Short and husband Jim; stepdaughter Kathy Chisum and husband Henry; stepdaughter Julia Woods; stepson Ralph, Jr. and wife Tammy; stepdaughter Brenda James and husband Mike; stepson Patrick Donovan and wife Nicki; 22 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives including a special aunt, Marjorie Heaton, and many cousins. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at Cook Springs Baptist Church, under the direction of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, with Robert Nichols and Joe Saffle officiating. Interment will follow at McAdams Cemetery. Pallbearers are Lary Crocker, Don Heinsohn, Eric Johnston, Larry Molitor, James Ray Necker, Larry Pynes, and Allen Sylvester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cook Springs Building Fund, 1936-A SH 75N, Huntsville, Texas 77320. Memorial condolences may be made to the family online at www.shmfh.com

Dolores Donovan

January 22, 1937 - June 14, 2006