Rose Mary Docterman

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Rose Mary Docterman departed this life on February 22, 2025, at home with family in Simla, Colorado.

Rose Mary was born December 23, 1942 to William Thomas and Florence Medrith Denny near Reynoldsburg, Ohio, the fourth of their seven children and grew up in the hills of southern Ohio.

Her father was a minister and Rose Mary was dedicated to God as an infant, then became a Christian as a young girl.

In her youth, she spent many hours with her siblings exploring the woods, caves and hollers surrounding their home. After graduating from Allensville High School, she moved to Dayton, Ohio, where she worked as a waitress at Virginia Cafeteria and as a drill press operator at National Cash Register.

While in Dayton, she met, then married, Dallas Docterman. She worked sales as a coowner of a meat market, in New Carlisle, Ohio, a bookkeeper for New Carlisle National Bank and as a secretary at Scanlon Swallen Furniture Store, in Springfield Ohio.

Early in their marriage, she and Dallas took trips to the West, where he had traveled for work and wished to move to. In 1967, they moved to Colorado and after a short period of renting, purchased the homestead that would be her home for the next 49 years.

Rose Mary was an active member of the Alta Vista Extension Club and the Faith Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. She loved sewing, crocheting and embroidery.

She made matching outfits for her and her daughter, Tamrah, as well as several dresses for prom, homecoming and special events. She also made shirts, suits and sports jackets for Dallas, as well as jeans, shirts and suits for her son, Devon.

Over many years, she hand embroidered and pieced together a 50 states quilt and made 3 denim comforters for her son and grandsons using Dallas’ old, worn out jeans.

In 1986, she returned to the work force at Big Sandy School in Simla, Colorado, where her career spanned 30 years, first as a Cook, then Head Cook, School Secretary and lastly, as Superintendent’s Secretary and Secretary to the Board. 

During her time at Big Sandy, she was honored often for her work, and while she was often embarrassed by public displays, awards or accolades, she did take pride in doing well any task she took on.

Flowers and rocks were a big part of her life. She spent many happy hours working in her big rock and flower bed on her place south of Simla. A garden area she spent decades building and expanding. She never tired of looking at Nature’s Scenery and took countless pictures of sunrises, sunsets and the changing of the fall leaves.

After retiring from Big Sandy School in 2016, she moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to be near her son. In 2021, she returned to Simla, Colorado to be near her life long friends she often took trips with.

Family was very important to her. Her children and 2 grandsons were the light of her life. She had lots of happy times with her sisters, traveling, cooking, playing games and attending her family reunions each summer.

Rose Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Dallas Docterman; grandson, Morgan Blake Docterman, parents Tom and Med Denny, brother Robert Lincoln Denny, sister Sherry Lee Craig, parents-in-law, Leon and Myrtle Docterman, brother-in-laws Virgil Wayne and James Donald Docterman and sister in-law Mary Lou Grooms.

She is survived by daughter Tamrah Jo Docterman, son Devon Clay Docterman, grandson Nathan Tyler Ortiz, brothers William Thomas Jr and Virgil Ray Denney, sisters Martha Dell Barlow and Margaret Ann Rinehart and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grand-nephews, friends, colleagues/students of Big Sandy School and the Simla area community.

Since cancer affected several members of her family, in lieu of flowers, she requests donations be made to Cancer Research, Hospice Care Foundations or the charity of donor’s choice.