Dorothy Lee (Gardner) McBride died Sunday, July 31, 2016, in Watertown, MN. She was 96. Born on February 11, 1920, in Rifle, Dorothy spent her childhood there, helping care for her eight brothers and sisters. She married the love of her life, LaVaughn “Mac” McBride on July 15, 1944, in Glenwood Springs. Dorothy and Mac enjoyed 57 years of marriage, living in Grand Junction and Uravan where Mac worked in the uranium mines, and then moving to Roseville, California, in 1957 where Mac worked at Aerojet General. Dorothy’s sister Irene and her three young children soon followed, but sadly, Irene became sick and died of cancer in 1970. In perhaps the ultimate act of love and kindness, Dorothy and Mac adopted Irene’s three children Mike, Ken, and Kathy thereafter. The family moved to Half Moon Bay, CA, in 1971 and lived there until Mac retired from his job as a mechanic for United Airlines. Returning to their roots, Dorothy and Mac moved back to Grand Junction — again to be near family — and then to Tucson, AZ, where Mac died in 1997. Dorothy spent her final years in Watertown, MN, near her daughter and two youngest grandchildren.

Dorothy is preceded in death by three brothers, Earl, Rolland and Thomas Gardner, and three sisters, Mysie Grace Parrott, Mable Cotton and Veta Irene (Myberg) Cowden. She is survived by two brothers, Harry Gardner (Grand Junction) and Richard Gardner, children Michael McBride (Hayward, CA), Kenneth McBride (Woodside, CA) and Kathy McBride (Mound, MN), five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother, with a happy soul and an enormous heart. She lived a simple life and cherished her family above all else, always putting their needs ahead of her own. We will miss her dearly.

Dorothy is interred with Mac at Grand Junction Memorial Gardens cemetery. Per her wishes, no services are planned.