Dora L. Brownne

Dora Louise (Shaffer) Brownne was born August 6, 1921, and passed away on August 15, 2024, at the age of 103. She was preceded in death by her husband, F. Tillman Brownne, Jr., and her son, Frederick T. Brownne, III. She is survived by her daughters Dawn Brownne of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Dianne E. Butts (Hal) of Pueblo, Colorado.

Born to Roger and Olive Shaffer, she was the oldest of her seven siblings: Roger Shaffer, Myrtle Osborn, Clifford Shaffer, Hazel Ray, Delbert Shaffer, Albert Shaffer, and Wilma Shaffer who died in infancy.

Her family moved frequently. She attended Lincoln, Garfield, and Washington schools. She graduated from Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado. She moved to Denver and went to secretarial school, then went to work for the chaplain’s office at Lowry Air Force Base.

After marrying, she raised her children in the Castle Rock area where the family attended the United Methodist Church. When she went back to work, she worked in a Dolly Madison Ice Cream Store and then went to work for the federal government in the Federal Building in downtown Denver, working for the IRS and then the Office of Aging. She moved to Heather Gardens in Aurora in 1976. 

She loved to travel with Ports of Call visiting such exotic destinations as Tenerife, Canary Islands; Brazil; Venice, Italy; and took her daughters to Grand Cayman Island. She enjoyed reading the Denver Post, biographies of World War II era American leaders, especially Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and loved and read Guideposts magazine for decades.

She attended Presbyterian churches in Aurora until she could no longer walk easily. She claimed Jesus as her savior. Favorite hymns included The Old Rugged Cross and What a Friend We Have in Jesus. 

One beautiful, sunny day while visiting Dianne and Hal at their home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a breeze blew a wave through the tall, horse pasture grasses and she exclaimed, “Look! It looks like Jesus is walking toward us!” 

In her later years, she loved kitties. Cat calendars brought her much joy as did Dum-Dum suckers, peppermint puffs, and jigsaw puzzles.

She remained in Heather Gardens until she moved into assisted living for five years and then Hallmark Nursing Center for the final year of her life.

Dora will be laid to rest on Wednesday, August 21. Friends, neighbors, and all who knew her are invited to a viewing between 10:00 and 11:00am at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home in Centennial, 5303 E County Line Rd, Littleton, CO 80122. Afterwards, please join family and friends as they move her to Cedar Hills Cemetery in Castle Rock, 880 E. Wolfensberger Road (exit 182, about a half mile west from I-25), Castle Rock, CO 80109, for a graveside service starting at approximately 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Choice Hospice in Colorado, ChoiceHealthAtHome.com, or a food pantry of your choice.