Caren Louise Dumler

LINDSBORG - Caren Louise Dumler, 78, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on May 26, 2021. She was born in El Dorado, Kan., on February 27, 1943.

Caren met the love of her life, J.R. Dumler, at a WSU street dance in August of 1961.  J.R. arrived home that night and informed his roommates that he had met his future wife.  It was a quick courtship - engaged in November, and married on June 10, 1962.  They lived in Kansas where they raised their four daughters until they moved to Colorado in 1986 to fulfill their dreams of living in the Rocky Mountains.  They returned “home” to Kansas in 2017.

Caren’s biggest legacy was being a wonderful mother and grandma.  Caren was a woman of many talents and stories.  The grandkids loved going to “Bonca’s” house and riding her horses, making pans of homemade cinnamon rolls, taking day trips to Estes Park, or simply having a hot dog roast in the backyard while enjoying the view of the Rocky Mountains.  Caren loved “her” mountains and sitting under a pine tree next to a mountain stream where she would sometimes pack her paints and create a beautiful masterpiece. She enjoyed the Kansas landscape and taking country drives with her corgi and a Diet Coke packed full of ice.  She appreciated the simple things of life like sitting on her back porch and listening to the birds singing.  

She was a woman of many words and never hesitated to speak her mind and offer some wit and humor in conversation.  She had the gift of hospitality and always welcomed people into her home. She was a friend to many and those who had the honor of meeting Caren instantly loved being around her. Caren was a talented horsewoman and a member of the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association.  She enjoyed attending horse shows and volunteering at the National Western Stock Show in Denver,  providing her delicious home-cooked meals and cookies for the volunteers.  Music brought great joy to Caren’s life.  She loved attending concerts of her favorite artists and sometimes would score a backstage pass.  One of her favorite moments was being the driver for Lee Greenwood when he performed at the Bicentennial Center.

Caren is preceded in death by her mother, Dolly Chandler (John Clark); father, James Lee Chandler; and son-in-law, Bret Nimerick.  Caren is survived by her husband, J.R. Dumler; her brother, Vernon Chandler (Jan), Kansas City, Mo.; her four daughters, Stacy Hamontree (Gerry) Ellsworth, Kan., Dana Taylor (Steve), Richardson, Texas, Kim Kratzer (Andy), Marquette, Kan., and Lisa Mansfield (Bill), Niwot, Colo.; and her beloved grandchildren, Nathan Hamontree (Kate), Nicole Hamontree, Kelsie Jensen (Austin), Maddie Klotzbach (Rachelle), Collin Duffy, and Maggie Taylor; her great-grandson, Henry Hamontree; and her best napping buddy and lap dog, Jesse.   

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 1st, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, Kan.  A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at Ryan Mortuary at 11:00 a.m., and streamed at https://youtu.be/-wiqdd46ur0

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following: Lead Changes (Chris Cox Horsemanship Leadership Camps for Urban Youth) or TACOL (The Associated Churches of Lindsborg), in care of Ryan Mortuary.

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