Dorothy Lucille English was born in Edwards County, Kansas on November 30, 1925. She was the second of three daughters of Emmett Eugene English and Flora Blanche Wood. She was proud to be a farmer’s wife following a long tradition in her family.

Her great, great grandfather, William Wood, was a neighbor and friend of Abraham Lincoln’s family near Dale, Indiana. Thomas Lincoln, Abe’s father, made all of William Wood’s furniture. William Wood was the local judge and Abe attended all of William Wood’s court sessions.  William even convinced the young Abe not to leave his family to become a riverboat captain.  Abe went on to become a lawyer and finally the U.S. President.  Years later when Abe returned to visit friends in Indiana, he referred to William as “Uncle William”. The William Bartelt’s book “There I Grew Up Remembering Abraham Lincoln’s Indiana Youth”   Chapter 12 is devoted to William Wood and pictures the Wood Cemetery.

One of her great aunts, Dr. Anna Wood, was one of the first female doctor’s in Terre Haute, Indiana, 1890’s circa.  About that time the “germ theory” was just being realized and Dr. Anna always operated on newspapers because they were considered sterile. Her sister, Aunt Jenny, raised Dorothy’s mother and siblings after their mother died of typhoid fever. 

Mom’s grandfather, Robert Newton Wood, according to his obituary moved from Dale Indiana to Kansas in 1885.  “He had faith in the new area and was one of the first to recognize the possibility of Kansas being a wheat producing area and was raising plentiful wheat crops before his neighbors woke up to its vast potential.”

At age thirteen Dorothy began driving the tractor for her parents, this she did until she graduated from college in 1947. She graduated from Trousdale High School in 1943 and then went to Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kansas where she obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Home Economics with a minor in Chemistry. She taught Home Economics and Biology for four years at Lewis, Kansas. While teaching in Lewis, Kansas she met Edwin Negley of Zook, Kansas.

Dorothy and Edwin were married December 16, 1950 in Lewis and started life farming in two states, Kansas and Colorado 200 miles apart. It wasn’t an easy life. Ed always had two or three hired men to feed. Dorothy and Edwin were blessed with two children, John Edwin, Jr. Karen Ann. In February 1954 Colorado was hit with a terrible dust storm and it was decided to move to Colorado to take care of the four quarters that they owned.

Ed and Dorothy settled in Wiley, Colorado for six years and then moved to Eads in July of 1960. Life was quite busy with two young kids and a farm. During those busy times the best time to catch up on details was when Ed and Dorothy were traveling to town for repair parts.

After retiring Ed kept Dorothy busy traveling to places like Alaska, Hawaii, Canary Islands, Canada, Mexico, and all over the continental United States. They especially enjoyed Wheat Grower Conventions, and made many friends. Even though they traveled outside the United States, they were always glad to be back in the US.

Dorothy was a member of the Eads United Methodist Church, serving on several boards and was the financial secretary for over 20 years. She was also a member of the Eastern Star serving as Matron for two years. She along with Betty Taylor and Cathy Scherler were instrumental in bringing WIFE (Women Involved in Farm Economics) to Kiowa County in 1980. She also enjoyed being a part of the Red Hat Society. Her hobbies including playing bridge and other card games, reading, and needle point when her dogs would let her. She also was a 4-H leader in Eads and Wiley and helped teach sewing, knitting, and cooking. Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother and will missed.

Dorothy passed away on Thursday, November 03, 2016 at in Westminster, Colorado at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by her parents Emmett and Flora English, her husband Edwin Negley, and her sister Esther Fouse. Surviving sister is Mildred Moore of Kansas City, MO. Surviving children are Karen (Bob) Yudnich of Broomfield, Co; Laura (John Jr.  Negley of Eads, CO; grandchildren, Luke Yudnich and Annie Yudnich of Broomfield; Nate Yudnich of Denver; Jennifer Negley of Greeley, and Jayce Negley of Eads.