Dolores (Dodi) Ann Chew

Dolores (Dodi) Ann Chew died on Monday, March 24, 2014, at Moore-Few Care Center. Dodi was born on April 1, 1921, in Carlisle, Pa., to Edith Braught Trimmer and John Trimmer. Dodi was preceded in death by her only sibling, John Trimmer Jr.; her husband, Harry Chew, in 1978; and her daughter, Carol Lynn Chew Dikeman, in 1987. She is survived by daughter, Pamela Chew and husband, Jeff Bigby, and granddaughter, Bobbie Chew Bigby, of Tulsa; and son, Winston Gregory Chew and wife, Niki Westra, of Hoboken, N.J.

Dolores graduated in 1948 from Carlisle High School. Her uncle, famed painter, Ross Braught, encouraged her to come to the Kansas City Art Institute where he chaired the painting department and taught with colleague Thomas Hart Benton who called Ross "the finest draftsman in America." At KCAI, Dodi excelled at drawing, painting, and fashion illustration. Dodi met and later married fellow classmate, Harry Chew, on the day of his graduation with an M.F.A. from KCAI in May 1951. The day of their wedding they left Kansas City and moved to Nevada where Harry joined the Art Faculty of Cottey College. In 1957-58, Dodi and Pam moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, with Harry who was studying on a Scandanavian Fellowship.

During her life in Nevada, Dodi was an active member and participant in the Diana's Club of which she was a Charter Member and Chapter KK of P.E.O. During the famous Diana Melodramas, Dodi often illustrated the programs and drew and painted the posters for their performances. Her line drawings of Nevada Victorian homes were featured in the P.E.O. Chapter KK Coloring Book.

She loved her work as a docent at the Bushwhacker Museum where she led tours, recruited volunteers, labeled artifacts, and welcomed visiting groups and featured speakers. She was an active participant with the Vernon County Historical Society. She was proud of her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and proud to have had members of her family who had fought in the Revolutionary War. Her love of all history sparked her enthusiasm as she met new visitors each weekend at the museum. Her 1978 illustration of the Bushwhacker Jail adorned the flags which waved around the square in Nevada and appears on banners, stationary, and advertising materials. It is also displayed on the paperweight sold at the Bushwhacker Museum.

A celebration of life visitation is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 11, at Ferry Funeral Home, with shared memories spoken by family and friends at 6 p.m. Dodi will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan., at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Harry Chew Memorial Scholarship Fund at Cottey College, Vernon County Cancer Relief, Bushwhacker Museum, and Carol Chew Dikeman Scholarship Fund at Fort School Community College in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.