My Aunt Doris was a person to be admired. I always looked up to her since she was a very strong woman and always did things her way. She always welcomed me with open arms when we visited. Even when Darlene and I were young and got into mischief in the summer. Doris was always a disciplinarian and we learned our lessons. Although that never stopped us from getting into trouble, we just learned how to avoid it. I will always love and miss her smile and laughter. She could always brighten up a room and had a great sense of humor. She did life her way and with much joy. I am glad that I got to be a part of it. God has gained an angel and she will be missed.

We will always remember Doris and her great relationship with Jannelle, Darlene and, of course, with all of their friends. More than any of our parents, we felt that Doris connected easily with those of us "youngsters" who spent time at the Detroit Street house. She was one of the gang! She participated in our conversations, empathized with our challenges and she gave us good advice. Isn't that what good friends do? Doris was our respected, good friend and Pat and I will miss her. With Love from Dave Fox and Pat Tjaden.

Doris was always a rock in my life, from the early times, all the way up to Dad passing. I remember playing pong in her living room, strumming a guitar next to the piano, my graduation trip when I graduated high school all the way up to fishing with her at Estes lake the summer after Dad passed. Always open, always happy to see you, I can't remember a time she wasn't smiling.

Doris Wilkins
At the spritely age of 96, a birthday which she celebrated in style in California with her daughter Darlene on Feb. 1st, 2017, Doris Ione Wilkins, from Tonkawa, Oklahoma and Denver, Colorado, passed peacefully to rest on Friday, March 3, 2017. 

Born in 1921, to Maude and Herbert Wyckoff, she will be long remembered as a strong and witty woman with a sharp sense of humor. She was proceeded in death by 4 of her 5 brothers, Harold, Bob, Leon and Tom Wyckoff, her husband, Victor Lee Wilkins and long term friends, Keith Best and Ross Ferry. She is survived by her brother Irvin and is wife Dolores. 

Doris was raised on a farm outside of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and helped her mother with the six hungry, hard working men of the family. She left home to study at the Junior College in town about the time her youngest brother, Tom, was born. There she completed a two-year degree. She married Victor Wilkins in 1941. After World War II, when Victor returned from serving in the South Pacific, they decided to move to Denver, Colorado.

In 1950, their first daughter, Jannelle, was born and ten years later in 1960, Darlene came into their lives. In 1955, they bought what is still today the family home on Detroit St. After a difficult divorce, Doris devoted herself to her two daughters and brought them up to be independent, strong women like herself. For a while she worked in Real Estate, but at the age of 45 she went back to college to finish her degree. After spending some time with Head Start, she settled on second grade and she spent over 20 years teaching.

She formed long lasting relationships with family and friends and her home was always open to receive guests and relatives whether for a day or a year. She brought her mother from Oklahoma to live in Denver for the last 10 years of her life. Doris loved square dancing and fishing. She maintained her residence in Denver, but after her retirement she loved spending winters in Mesa, Az. and summers at her cabin in Estes Park, Co. where she was locally known as the “fisherwoman of Estes”. 

She loved to travel, a trait which she passed on to her two daughters and her only granddaughter, Natalia Wilkins-Tyler. Natalia was born in the house on Detroit St. in 1989 and grew up with her grandmother as a major part of her life. 
Doris never wanted to leave her home, so when Jannelle moved to Costa Rica in 2008, Darlene moved in to continue to care for mother. Darlene dedicated herself to keeping mother healthy and happy, and up until the last few weeks of her live she was still traveling, making jokes and enjoying a good quality of life.

Doris will be missed, and she continues to be loved by many.