Donna "Dee" Louise Brown Kenimer

Donna (Dee) Louise Brown Kenimer, of Montrose, CO, age 77, passed away in the comforts of her own home on September 7, 2024, with her family around her after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. 

Dee was born on October 18, 1946, to Rex and Mildred (Hansen) Brown in Denver, CO. Dee graduated in 1964 from Pattonville High School in Missouri. She went on to Covenant College in Georgia and then graduated from Baroness Erlanger Hospital School of Nursing in 1968. She met the love of her life, Keith Kenimer MD, in the summer of 1967 at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN and they were married that December on Lookout Mountain Georgia.

Dee was an Army wife, and the family lived in Georgia until 1975. They moved to Montrose, CO following a vacation to the western slope. Dee enjoyed gardening, cattle ranching, raising sheep for wool, 4H, spinning and weaving, working with stained glass, painting, and acting with friends at the Magic Circle Theatre. Keith and Dee, with two other couples, founded Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church in Montrose in 1978 and what would later become Colorado West Christian School that same year. 

At the time of her death, Dee was a member of Providence Reformed Church in Grand Junction, CO. 

Dee is survived by her son, Barry (Allison) Kenimer of Montrose, CO; two daughters, Courtney Kenimer of St. Louis, MO and Hansen (Matt) Whitworth of Montrose, CO; brother Lee Brown of Waco, TX; sister Regina (Rodney) Jarboe of St. Louis, MO; 11 grandchildren: Jacob, Chloe, Joshua, Taylor, Grace, Spencer (Rachael), Noah, Ethan, Hope, Lily and Nate and numerous nieces and nephews. Dee was preceded in death by her parents Rex and Mildred Brown, her husband Keith Kenimer, and her son Karl Kenimer. 

Dee’s funeral and graveside services were held on September 14, 2024, at SkyFire Ranch in Montrose, CO. 

A special thank you to her extra caregivers over the past 7 years: her grandchildren Taylor, Spencer, Rachael, Lily and Nate Kenimer and friends Rachel and her brother Sam Walker and Mellanie Cooper. Sincere thanks are also extended to Day By Day in Delta, CO, Riverside Adult Day Program in Montrose, CO. And a huge and heartfelt thank you to all of the staff at Hope West here in Montrose, CO. 

Arrangements were under the direction of SkyFire Ranch and Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory.