Doreen Fitzgerald Zwicker

DOREEN FITZGERALD ZWICKER Funeral services for lifelong area resident Doreen Fitzgerald Zwicker will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 22 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Doreen was born March 7, 1923 in Esbon, Kans. to Harry and Myrtle (Carver) Blaine. She moved with her parents to Lewis Arriola and then to Mancos when she was a child. Doreen married Jimmy Fitzgerald Jr. on February 3, 1940. To this union two children were born, James Kent and Karen Fitzgerald. Doreen and Jimmy ranched in the Mancos area for many years before opening and operating Fitz's Caf in Nucla, Colo. They retired in 1975, at which time they enjoyed retirement by living at Porter's cow camp and in Black Canyon and spending time with their grandchildren, all of whom have fond memories of the time they spent at "Woods Camp". Jimmy passed away in 1978. Doreen married Stanley Leavell who later passed away in 1983. Doreen married Eldon Zwicker and they enjoyed 16 years of marriage before his death in 2000. She was a member of Southwest Cowbells and Ladies Auxiliary. Doreen was an avid reader and card player until her eyesight prevented it. In her later years, she made her home at Madison House where she passed from this life on January 17, 2011 after a brief illness, attended by her daughter, grandchildren, nephew, Shannon (Boof) Fitzgerald and the staff at Madison House. Doreen was preceded in death by her husbands, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Stanley Leavell and Eldon Zwicker; her son, James Kent Fitzgerald; her parents; her siblings, Evelyn Taylor, Clarence Blaine, and infant brother, and Doris Fitzgerald; and her son-in-law, Roy Kingery. She leaves behind her daughter, Karen Fitzgerald Kingery; her step children, Sherman Zwicker, Sheldon and Naomi Zwicker, and Calvin and Ruth Zwicker; her son-in-law, Don Steerman; her grandchildren, Darin and Lezlie Fitzgerald, Cammy and Britt Atkins, Dion Fitzgerald, Don and Clea Steerman, Sandy and Stan Eubanks, Sonie and Matt Buffington, Shawna and Kenny McLaughlin, Devan and Bobbie Steerman, Jim and Cathy Kingery, and Danny and Robin Kingery; her Aunt Willie Leonard; great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; and extended family and friends too numerous to list, all of whom knew her love. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Madison House who provided her with excellent care.