Dolores Madaline Herd

Dolores Madaline Huff was born February 29th, 1924 on a farmstead near Selman, Oklahoma. The oldest daughter of Kenneth Orville and Susie Miriam Huff, she was joined later by sisters Mavis Joan and Carrie Jane.
The family moved to Protection when Dolores was in her formative years where she attended grade school and high school. She loved life in Protection and excelled in her school activities, played the Sousaphone in the marching band and developed friendships that would ultimately last throughout her life.
In the Summer of 1942 she became acquainted with a young man who had graduated from Protection High in 1939. Her relationship with DeWayne Herd would last 70 years.
The romance that began in small town America in the 40s would soon be tested by tumultuous events on a world wide scale, as the United States was drawn into World War Two. DeWayne and Dolores became engaged in 1943 before he was shipped off to the Pacific. He would be overseas in Australia, The Philippines and New Guinea for the next two years.
During his absence Dolores moved with her mother and sisters to Hawthorne, California where she did her part for the war effort working in radar detection for a company called Gilfillan Brothers.
Throughout DeWayne's time in service, hundreds of miles away, their romance was maintained and strengthened through an endless exchange of letters. World War Two finally came to an end and in 1945 Dolores moved back to Protection to await the return of her soldier. DeWayne returned a few days after Christmas and the two were finally married two weeks later on January 10th, 1946.
In December of that year the Herds welcomed their first child, Cheryl , into the family and then along came Steve, Stan, Stewart, Sid and Chad.
The family lived south of town in a small clapboard house until 1964 when they bought the big three story "Schaubel House" at 304 South Washington in Protection that is still home and headquarters for the Herd Family.
As a lifelong work of love, Dolores decorated each room of the big house with brightly colored wallpaper and inexpensive used furniture she found at garage and estate sales. She relished her role as "homemaker" and created a warm, comfortable and inviting house that always welcomed her children, grandchildren and many friends. In her 60s she fell in love with quilting and began the creation of more than 30 beautiful quilts, giving one to each of her children and grandchildren during a family gathering just last year.
Dolores was very social and outgoing and loved visiting with friends, and even strangers. For most of her life she loved going to her "card parties", and in her 80s, made new friends in the "Red Hat Society".
Throughout their long and happy life together Dolores and DeWayne have always been moved, soothed and inspired by Big Band Era music and have passed the love of that music down to their six kids.

Dolores is survived by her husband DeWayne, sister Mavis Joan Huff, children Cheryl Jacobs and her husband Tom, Steve Herd and wife Sheryl Ann, Stan Herd, Stewart Herd and wife Heather, Sid Herd and wife Shawna and Chad Herd and wife Gretchen, 13 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Carrie Jane and her grandson, Sy Herd.

Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, September 30, 2013, at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.

Funeral service is at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at the First Baptist Church in Protection, KS, with Pastor Brandon Hagins presiding.

Burial will follow the funeral service at Protection Cemetery in Protection, KS.

Memorials may be sent to Protection Valley Manor or Comanche County Hospital in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.