Mrs. Dolores "Dee" Catherine Godley (Steen)

Dolores C. (Steen) Godley, “Dee”, was born 20 April 1920 and peacefully left this Earth 23 June 2015. Welcoming her was her husband of almost 50 years, Master Sargent Charles J. Godley, Sr., and many beloved family and friends. Her children, Charles J. (Frances) Godley Jr. and Linda C. Andersen were with her in this life, along with Grandchildren Gary Godley, Jennifer Veltman, Tracey (Ellie) Walker, Eric (Robin) Walker, Steve (Amanda) Parsons and Jason Parsons; her friend Judy Godley, many great and great-great grandkids and her wonderful nephews. With legs better than Betty Grable and an attitude bigger than Bette Davis', Dee was a personality you could not deny, and a smile you'd never forget! Apricot Brandy was a favorite drink, but she'd never turn down a glass of bubbles with the girls. Her conversation was easy and she was always invested when she talked with you. Dee was vibrantly involved with many areas of her community. Her most favorite were: The American Legion Auxiliary; Wyoming and Kentwood Senior Centers and Salvation Army Senior Program. Being an avid swimmer and driver from an early age, the Union High School Graduate of 1939 earned her Life Saving Certification and would go on to forge lasting relationships everywhere she put down roots. She moved around quite a bit during the early years of her marriage as an Army/Airforce wife, the true personification of the word “homemaker” as she so eloquently made each house a home for her husband and two children. There was no doubt she was the very foundation of not only her home, but each community of which she was a part. She knew the name of everyone in the neighborhood, including their children and their pets. Dolores was always the one with the door and her heart open, ready to be a friend to all. This continued through to the family settling down in West Michigan. Everyone in the neighborhood knew Dee. Neighbors would gather in her backyard on Farnham Street as gardening was a passion, it was full of vegetables, sunflowers, wildflowers and lilac bushes as tall as her house! Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were favorite topics of conversation because of her love for dancing. She would go anywhere the music would take her, and as her dancing continued through the years she became quite the square-dancer. Rosie The Riveter had nothing on Dee! The small but mighty woman put her strength into her work at Haskelite Manufacturing , picking up her drill, Dee the Drop-Tank Diva, worked throughout WW II in many areas of production. When the large size of the PT boat panels she assembled were thought to be too big for her, she took it on, proving her stature was not going to stop her from serving her country. Dee was not an educator by education, but she was a mentor and teacher to all who knew her. Sassy and sometimes wonderfully irreverent, she would always speak her mind. By the age of 70 you'd hear her say “I'm too old to censor myself!”. But we all knew she stopped “censoring” herself at about the age of seven when she was causing trouble with her older sister Marian. Small in stature, but you'd never meet a bigger person. Her wisdom, and most certainly her wit, were gifts she'd bestow on everyone. She was delighted to spend time with her great and great-great grandchildren and discuss everything from fashion to the Detroit Tigers or to give instructions on how to do the splits. She especially loved discussing travel, which she continued throughout her life. Never refusing a bus trip, and later traveling to Europe and the Netherlands. At 85 on a trip to Hawaii the locals bestowed upon her the moniker “Little Mama”. Partially for her stature, yes, but mostly because of her loving nature toward everyone. When she put her hand on yours and looked at you, she really saw you. Little Mama would say “Love ya love ya” because one love just wasn't enough for her. One love wasn't big enough to express her warmth, caring and true nature of her heart. The Funeral and Committal Service will be held Saturday at 10:00 AM at Arsulowicz Brothers Stocking Mortuary, 585 Stocking Ave NW, where the family will receive visitors Friday from 7 to 9 PM. Interment Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

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Mrs. Dolores "Dee" Catherine Godley (Steen)

April 24, 1920 - June 23, 2015