Dolores Irvine Needham, 93, of Marshall, Texas died on September 28, 2020. She was born Ethel Dolores on February 15, 1927 to Ray and Estelle Irvine.  She graduated from Marshall High School and went on to East Texas Baptist University with the dream of becoming a teacher.

Dolores' love for teaching never wavered. She started her career at Pasadena Day School and Asbury Methodist Day School.  She taught in California, Mississippi, and even France.  She returned to Marshall to teach at Trinity and St. Joseph's.  After "retirement" she continued working with children through Sunday school, home schooling, and teaching English to foreign students. Her role as DoeDoe the Clown was a favorite of young and old!

Dolores loved the great outdoors and spent many summers camping with her family. She preserved memories of these trips through vacation journals and stories about the tiny creatures of the woods. In her last years she loved looking out at the trees and birds in Reunion Inn's courtyard.

She is predeceased by her loving sister Norma Forsythe and her brother Billy Ray Irvine, as well as her husband Charles Needham and their children Charles and Marnie. She leaves behind a host of friends and family, including sister Laverne Cundiff and brother in law Sam; sister Paula Fyffe and brother in law Bill; friend and father of her children Leo Ruff; son Buddy Ruff and daughter in law Margaret; daughter Susan Cucci; daughter Cindy Stokes and son in law Chuck; daughter Joanne Ducharme and son in law Chuck. In addition she leaves behind 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Dolores was a beautiful and timeless woman with a ready smile, a ringing laugh, and an intrepid love of adventure. We know she is on her Greatest Adventure now, and loving every minute of it.

The family wishes to thank all the staff of Reunion Inn, particularly Dayna and Emily. And also the nurses at Marshall Hospice, especially Brittany and Wendy.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to:

First Assembly of God:  Children's Ministry

400  So. Lafayette St

Marshall, Tx. 75670