Dolores Loretta Markey

1939 - 2025

Dolores Loretta Bishop Markey, 86, passed away peacefully in the company of family and listening to her favorite music, on Oct. 2, 2025.

Born on a farm near West Point on March 23, 1939, raised in Franklin, to George Leslie and Barbara Denning Bishop, the eighth of 11 children.

She attended Franklin Independent School K-8, then Donnellson High School, where she graduated 1956. She went for one year of college at Keokuk Community College.

Dolores married John Dale Markey September 14, 1957.

Survived by seven children: John Matthew (Pam), Maureen (Eric Higdon), Lydia, Michelle (Brian Butler), Mia (Eric Stuckey), Molly (Michael Shamashkin), Margie (Zack Snyder); 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Bette Thompson (Jim); and one brother Dale Bishop (Beverly).

Preceded in death by her parents, three brothers (George, Wesley, and Steve), five sisters (Rosalie Bishop, Ruth Farrell, Arleta Bishop, Marge Gunn, and Flo Bishop) and husband John (March 31, 2014).

Dolores was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dallas City, Ill.. She served as Religious Education coordinator and CCD teacher for 21 years and was president of the Altar and Rosary Society twice. She was secretary of the PTO for five years, volunteered at the library for several years, was a member of the site committee for the new grade school in 1975, served as Girl Scout troop leader three different times, co-chaired the parade committee for the 125th celebration of Dallas City, was co-chairman of the Sacred Heart Church Centennial Celebration 2008, and served as Election Judge for Durham Township for many years.

She worked outside the home a few times at the Lomax Canning Factory, Mobile Health, and at Casey's as the donut lady.

But her main job was wife, mom, and grandma. She was her husband John's chore girl both for hogs and cattle. After John retired in 1992, Dolores considered them very blessed in that they enjoyed almost 21 years more in a second honeymoon. They chored together, built fence together, cut wood together, and did housework together. She loved going on the four-wheeler with John all over their farm and their son's farm, taking care of the cattle. Her hobbies included reading, sewing, playing cards, and visiting children and siblings. She enjoyed making quilts for their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She made wedding and first baby quilts for all of her 'Markey' nieces and nephews-all 41! She embroidered sets of dish towels for her children and grandchildren as well.

A time for sharing memories will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City; followed by visitation with the family until 11 a.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, October 10, 2025 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Carthage, Ill., with Fr. Tony Trosley as Celebrant. A luncheon will be held after Mass in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. in Gittings Mound Cemetery, rural Dallas City.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Honor Flight (https://www.honorflight.org/), the Dallas City Food Pantry (Dallas City Food Pantry, Grace Bible Church, 2880 N. State Highway 9, Dallas City, IL 62330), Sts. Peter and Paul School, Nauvoo IL (https://www.stspeterpaul.org/) or the Lee County Pioneer Cemetery Association for preservation of Beeler Cemetery, Harrison Township, Lee County, Iowa. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Mrs. Markey's obituary at banksandbeals.com.