Yvonne Marie Doerfer

Yvonne Marie Doerfer passed away peacefully in her own home under Montezuma Hospice Care, surrounded by her family on December 26, 2022 in Mancos, Colorado.

Yvonne is the daughter of Ray and Elva Bates, and was born November 8,1934, in Hugaton, Kansas.

She has one sister, Mary Maxine Bates Walters, 92, residing in Phoenix, Arizona.

She is survived by her husband, Pete E. Doerfer, 91, in Mancos Colorado. Pete and Yvonne were married August 15, 1954, in Phoenix, Arizona. They celebrated 68 years together in 2022.

Yvonne and Pete have 2 daughters, and 3 grandchildren. Dianne M. Doerfer, lives in Mancos, Colorado, and has 1 daughter, Kalenne M. Doerfer.

Evelyn I. Doerfer-Cisney lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband Scott A. Cisney and they have 2 children, Nicholas S. Cisney and spouse Tori Cisney, and Zachary R. Cisney.

Yvonne graduated from high school in 1950 in Mesa Arizona. A fond high school memory Yvonne had was she was a roper, with the high school band.

She attended Arizona State University for a short time. Her first job was a “Shorthand” Secretary for Commards in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

Yvonne was primarily a homemaker. She worked various part time jobs throughout the 30 years living in Phoenix. She worked at JC Penney, Montgomery Wards, Hickory Farms, Washington School District and Credit Counselor. She was an Avon Representative for over 25 years, and in the 1980’s Pete and Yvonne managed and operated together Baseline Coolers for several years.

In 1985, Pete and Yvonne moved to Mancos Colorado to the Doerfer Farm in Webber Canyon.

Pete wanted to carry on the Doerfer tradition of ranching and farming of the many acres of the Doerfer Ranch.

While Pete did most of the ranching and farming, Yvonne helped as she was able to assist, with irrigation, and assisting during haying season w/ loading hay bales on the elevator to the barn.

Yvonne’s passion for cooking and canning kept her busy in the kitchen. She loved to cook, bake pies, and can apples and peaches.

She had many hobbies: quilting, crocheting, sewing, and tole painting, playing card games, especially cribbage, and in the final years completed daily word search books.

She was an avid fisherwoman, and loved trout fishing, as a little girl growing up and even as an adult.

She loved collecting things, like recipes, quilts, quilt pieces, angels, cows, and mice figurines, tole painting and cookie jars.

She was a true historian and loved genealogy. She studied and put together many family tree lines spanning decades and centuries.

Yvonne loved animals especially cats.

Yvonne had a sense of humor and had a contagious laugh, that once she started laughing, everyone started laughing.

She loved visiting with people, telling stories of childhood memories, or telling little story lines, like I’m “finer than froghair.