Born at home during a winter storm on January 30, 1935, she was delivered by her father in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Dolores, or “Dee,” was a happy, active soul from childhood until her death.
Music was a staple of her family life, and she was especially talented at playing the piano and alto saxophone. As a youngster, she played piano in her father’s dance band (Dutch Kern’s Orchestra) at the Kern Barn Dance Hall every weekend. The band also played at dances throughout northeastern Kansas during that time. At the age of 80, she taught herself to play the ukulele and joined the Tallgrass Ukulele group that performed for community gatherings.
Music was a staple of her family life, and she was especially talented at playing the piano and alto saxophone. As a youngster, she played piano in her father’s dance band (Dutch Kern’s Orchestra) at the Kern Barn Dance Hall every weekend. The band also played at dances throughout northeastern Kansas during that time. At the age of 80, she taught herself to play the ukulele and joined the Tallgrass Ukulele group that performed for community gatherings.
Dee grew up with horses and was an active member of the Leavenworth Saddle Club. She joined her parents as they rode in parades and horse shows and she earned over a hundred ribbons and awards in competitions.
She attended Saint Joseph Elementary School in Leavenworth and graduated from Leavenworth High School. In high school, she was active in the band and other clubs, including the high school’s Business Club. She was nominated as President of the Kansas State High School Business Organization.
She attended Saint Joseph Elementary School in Leavenworth and graduated from Leavenworth High School. In high school, she was active in the band and other clubs, including the high school’s Business Club. She was nominated as President of the Kansas State High School Business Organization.
Her interest in business led to her employment at the Fort Leavenworth Post Exchange where she met the love of her life, Jasper Marvin McCurdy, Jr.
Dee and Marv were married in Leavenworth on April 16, 1955 and she began the life of an Army officer’s wife.
Dee enjoyed being active. For years, she walked 6-8 miles every day, and she was an avid bowler who earned many individual and team awards. She also worked at the bowling alley, serving as a youth coach, as league president and secretary for many years, and as the president of the Leavenworth Women’s Bowling Association. Dee and Marv were terrific square dancers and attended dances across northeast Kansas. She was also a member and officer of the Leavenworth Philomathean Literary Club.
Dee was an outstanding cook and had a world-class cookbook library that she had assembled over the years. While she loved to read literature, she especially loved to read recipes and would spend hours upon hours reading and planning menus. She prepared and published a cookbook and was the Food Editor for the Leavenworth Times for several years, writing weekly columns.
Dee and Marvin were committed to service and giving to others. She was a life-long member of the St Joseph parish in Leavenworth and coordinated annual charity efforts to raise money for the church and to provide supplies, clothing, and gifts for needy children and families.
She loved her doggies, especially Liebchen, a Yorkie that was a superb companion for her, but her primary gift was her love of her family and friends. She was devoted to her husband of 57 years, Marv who preceded her in death in 2013.
Dee enjoyed being active. For years, she walked 6-8 miles every day, and she was an avid bowler who earned many individual and team awards. She also worked at the bowling alley, serving as a youth coach, as league president and secretary for many years, and as the president of the Leavenworth Women’s Bowling Association. Dee and Marv were terrific square dancers and attended dances across northeast Kansas. She was also a member and officer of the Leavenworth Philomathean Literary Club.
Dee was an outstanding cook and had a world-class cookbook library that she had assembled over the years. While she loved to read literature, she especially loved to read recipes and would spend hours upon hours reading and planning menus. She prepared and published a cookbook and was the Food Editor for the Leavenworth Times for several years, writing weekly columns.
Dee and Marvin were committed to service and giving to others. She was a life-long member of the St Joseph parish in Leavenworth and coordinated annual charity efforts to raise money for the church and to provide supplies, clothing, and gifts for needy children and families.
She loved her doggies, especially Liebchen, a Yorkie that was a superb companion for her, but her primary gift was her love of her family and friends. She was devoted to her husband of 57 years, Marv who preceded her in death in 2013.
Dee was also very, very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and would tell anyone who would listen all about them.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dutch and Grace Kern, her brother, Junior Kern, and her husband Marv.
Survivors include son Ronald McCurdy (Kimberly Chaney) of Frederick, Maryland, and daughter Rhonda Grace McCurdy White (Tony) of Pittsburg, Kansas; grandchildren Caitlin McCurdy (Sam Garland), Devon McCurdy Lawrence (Robert), Kelsey McCurdy, Adam White, Heather Turner (Bryan), Lara Hamidi-Ismert (Mitch), Jonathan Harms Mahlandt (Rachael), Grant Chaney, Kate Chaney; great-grandchildren Elliott Jasper Garland, Madeline Garland, Owen Lawrence, Finn Harms Mahlandt, Darcy Harms Mahlandt, Bryson Turner, Cobyn Turner; and her very special friend Myron Sildon, as well as sister-in-law Mary Charlotte Kern, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dutch and Grace Kern, her brother, Junior Kern, and her husband Marv.
Survivors include son Ronald McCurdy (Kimberly Chaney) of Frederick, Maryland, and daughter Rhonda Grace McCurdy White (Tony) of Pittsburg, Kansas; grandchildren Caitlin McCurdy (Sam Garland), Devon McCurdy Lawrence (Robert), Kelsey McCurdy, Adam White, Heather Turner (Bryan), Lara Hamidi-Ismert (Mitch), Jonathan Harms Mahlandt (Rachael), Grant Chaney, Kate Chaney; great-grandchildren Elliott Jasper Garland, Madeline Garland, Owen Lawrence, Finn Harms Mahlandt, Darcy Harms Mahlandt, Bryson Turner, Cobyn Turner; and her very special friend Myron Sildon, as well as sister-in-law Mary Charlotte Kern, and many nieces and nephews.
Dee made many new friends at TallGrass in Overland Park and we thank each of you for your love, friendship, and support while she lived there as well as when she moved from Tallgrass to Pittsburg. We'd like to thank, Kayla Spencer, who was our mother's personal home health nurse while living in Pittsburg; mom and Kayla had a very special bond and for that we are grateful.
Services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to one’s local animal shelter or humane society.
Arrangements are by the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway in Pittsburg, KS 66762.
Condolences can be left online at
UPDATE July 13, 2021
Services will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 10:00am at the Leintz Funeral Home in Leavenworth, Kansas. Many of you already sent cards, flowers, and donations; please do not feel you must do this again to coincide with her service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to one's local animal shelter or humane society. Here is a link to the Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society which Dee helped support: https://www.leavenworthanimalwelfaresociety.com/donate
Together ♥♥♥ Forever
Marv was born on the family farm on Jan. 13, 1932, northwest of Bentonville, Arkansas, to Jasper Marvin McCurdy, Sr. and Eva Grace Hornsby McCurdy, the youngest of 9 children. He was raised during the throes of the Great Depression.
Marv went to Valley View school near where he was born. He graduated from Bentonville High School in 1949, serving as homecoming king, captain of the football and basketball teams, and class president his senior year.
After high school, he attended NEO Community College in Miami, Oklahoma, where he also played football. Marv then joined the Army in 1951 and spent two years in Korea during the Korean War. As a young officer, He was selected for the honor of representing the 5th Regimental Combat Team when 125,000 prisoners were exchanged just above the 38th Parallel in 1953; he received a letter of commendation for service during this repatriation of prisoners.
Marv’s next assignment was a special blessing when he met the love of his life, Dolores Kern, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They were married April 16, 1955, and began a lifetime devoted to each other and the family they would have together. Ron was born at Fort Leavenworth in 1956 and Rhonda was born in Germany in 1960 while they were stationed there.
Their life continued at posts in Fort Benning, Georgia, Washington, DC, back to Germany, Norfolk, Virginia, and a tour in Vietnam that concluded with Marv serving as a representative of the U.S. Military Commander at the Paris Peace talks. After returning from that assignment, Marv was assigned back to the Pentagon in Military Intelligence with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and attended numerous leadership schools culminating with the prestigious Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also graduated with honors from the University of Maryland in 1962.
Marv retired from the Army as a full Colonel in 1975. He was awarded the Legion of Merit three times, the Bronze Star, and numerous other Meritorious Service and Commendation Awards.
In 1978, Marv and Dolores moved back to Leavenworth and began a second career serving their community. Marv served on the Lansing Planning and Zoning commission for 13 years and on the Mt. Calvary Cemetery board. He volunteered with the area Adult Education Center teaching several evenings each week for over 10 years. Marv and Dolores enjoyed K-State sports, bowling, square dancing, working with their church, giving back to their neighbors, and especially their children and, in time, grandchildren. Marv’s meticulous nature lent itself to rewarding hobbies creating stained glass, major home improvements, and refinishing antique furniture.
Marv never forgot his humble upbringing and combined a keen intellect, a driving work ethic, and strong personal ethics to find success in every endeavor he selected. In every opportunity throughout his illustrious life, he emerged as a leader among leaders.
Marv is survived by Dolores, his wife and partner of nearly 58 wonderful years. He is also survived by their son, Ron McCurdy (wife Kim) of Frederick, Maryland. and by daughter, Rhonda Grace White (husband Tony) of Pittsburg Kansas.; nine grandchildren, (Caitlin McCurdy, Devon McCurdy, Kelsey McCurdy, Lara Ismert, Adam White, Heather Turner (Bryan), Jonathan Mahlandt, Grant Chaney, and Kate Chaney and two great-grandchildren (Bryson and Corbyn Turner). Two older sisters also survive, Gertrude Jewell of Hampton, Virginia and Fay Wight of Bentonville, along with many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews, and close friends.
In addition to his parents, Marv was preceded in death by brothers, Albert McCurdy, Clyde McCurdy, and Ray McCurdy and sisters Nellie Heess, Dorothy Cress Sheldon, and Margaret Sawyer.
Visitation with the family will be Friday evening, March 29, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home in Leavenworth. The service will be Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. also at the funeral home. Internment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) or the Leavenworth Assistance Center.
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