Dolores Irene Foley

HAMILTON - Dolores Irene Foley, 93, passed away on July 03, 2014 due to natural causes after living a full life.

Dolores was born February 19, 1921 in Toston, Montana. Dolores married John Foley in 1939. Dolores and John purchased a ranch at the end of Hamilton Heights Road in 1946 where they settled and raised 4 sons. Dolores was a long time resident of the Bitterroot Valley operating Foley Beauty Center on Main Street in Hamilton for 37 years. For many valley residents, she was the preferred beautician and her customers became lifelong friends.

Dolores was ambitious and hard working. In addition to operating the Beauty Shop and tending to ranch chores, she was an excellent gardener with immaculate flower beds and a large vegetable garden. She and John were members of St. Francis Catholic Church, Eagles Auxiliary and loved to dance every Friday night. Dolores was adventurous and after retiring, she joined the Bitterroot Cowbells to continue to support ranching in the Valley. She was also a member of the 5 Valley Accordion Association, continuing to dance on Sundays. She traveled the United States and enjoyed spending time in Palm Springs with her sister. She was always young at heart learning to golf later in life and spending time fishing and camping with her brother at various lakes around the State.

Dolores was a proud Grandma and loved the title of "Little Gramma". She was full of spunk and would do anything for anyone. All of her nieces and nephews referred to her as "Auntie Do" which she found enduring. Dolores had a love for animals her entire life and spent the last 14 years of her life with her best friend Snuggles, a Pekinese.

Dolores is survived by her 3 sons; Jim, Bob (wife Kristy), Steve of Spokane, WA and daughter-in-law Vivian Foley of Corvallis. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family. Dolores is preceded in death by her parents Otto and Elizabeth Nelson (step-dad Roland Clark), her husband John Foley, Sr. (1983), son John Foley, Jr (2001), an infant son Robert James (1942), granddaughter Cheryl Foley (1968) and 4 brothers (Marlow Nelson, Maynard Nelson, James Clark and Dan Clark) and 2 sisters (Vivian McIntosh and Mavis Fairchild).

Dolores (Little Gramma) will always be remembered for her hard work, willingness to help others and the stamp she left on the community.