Doris Alene Langham

Alene Langham, R.N., passed away on August 22, 2019, at Life Care Center of Greeley. She was born Doris Alene McCanless in Wheeler County, Texas, on September 13, 1925, and moved to Roosevelt County, New Mexico, before age 6. She attended all twelve years of school at Causey, New Mexico, graduating in 1943; she was valedictorian of her class of ten. After a year of college in Albuquerque, Alene became interested in nursing. While riding a train, she happened to see an Army nurse in uniform and got up the courage to ask about pursuing that career. She was told that there was a wartime program for tuition-free nurse’s training. Alene promptly enrolled in Minnequa School of Nursing in Pueblo, Colorado; she graduated in 1945. Since the war had ended, there was no longer a requirement to serve in the Army, so Alene went back to her family’s small ranch near Springer, New Mexico, and got a job behind the soda fountain in the town drug store. One day a handsome young man, fresh out of the Army Air Corp, walked into the drug store and into Alene’s life. The Langham family and the McCanless family owned neighboring ranches, and Alene already knew Quentin’s younger siblings. Acquaintance grew into friendship, then courtship; Alene and Quentin were married on November 27, 1948. They ranched on a portion of his parents’ place for about two years, during which time their daughters Vera and Joyce were born. The young Langhams then moved to a farm in northeastern Oklahoma, and the family was completed with son Wayne and daughter Doris. In 1960 they moved to Greeley, where Quentin embarked on his 25-year career in construction. Alene began working at Weld County General Hospital (now NCMC) in 1967, retiring 20 years later. Alene’s great loves were her family and God. She gave of herself by sewing for others, baking countless dozens of cookies for church functions, and bringing a casserole to every potluck her church ever had. Her favorite pastimes were growing flowers, playing piano and singing, and beating the socks off her opponents in Scrabble. Preceded in death by her son Wayne (1972) and her husband Quentin (1996), Alene is survived by daughters Vera Kozak (David) of Buffalo, NY, Joyce Langham of Greeley, and Doris Langham of Greeley; grandchildren Wayne Langham (Katie) of Detroit, MI, and Cecile Sanders of Winnemucca, NV; and great-grandchildren Alyssa and Tyson, both of Winnemucca. Mom, Grandma, GG—rest in peace. Services 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at Sherwood Park Baptist Church. Lunch to follow with interment at 12:30 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorial gifts to Weld Food Bank or the Sherwood Park Baptist Church in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634,