DOLORES ‘DEE’ JEAN RIGHTLEY Oct. 7, 1932 − April 5, 2026
Dolores “Dee” Jean Rightley (nee Martin), age 93, passed away on April 5, 2026 in Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by eight children, Jean, Susan, Lisa, David, Todd, Jim, Michael, and Paul, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her sister Paula Martin. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Ed Rightley, infant child John, parents Herschel and Madeline Martin and her brother Bob Martin.
Dee was born in Denver, Colorado on October 7, 1932. She was a self-reliant young girl who would often ride the Denver trolley to the end of the trolley line, transfer to a Denver bus, ride to the end of the bus line, and then walk two blocks to spend the night at her grandmother’s apartment. She loved reading and found the library to be one of her favorite places. She was enthralled by the beauty of music and became quite proficient at playing the piano and organ. She had a lifelong love of nature, and being in the mountains always brought her peace. As a young woman, Dee met the love of her life while working at Los Alamos, NM. Ed and Dee married in 1953 and settled in Albuquerque.
Together, Ed and Dee raised their eight children with the same love of nature that they both felt. There were numerous camping trips, fishing trips, and backpack trips. Dee also found time, amid rearing her exuberant growing family, to sew many down jackets, sleeping bags, clothing and other items, work with Girl Scouts, and remain an active member of her church. As her children grew up, she was proud to start a hiking/backpacking group with other women whom they named “the Happy Hoofers”.
Dee’s dream of living in the mountains became a reality when she and Ed built a home in the Jemez Mountains. It became her place of solace after his death, and she remained there for many years, enjoying her rustic life, watching the wildlife, developing friendships with the people of the Jemez, and playing organ for Jemez Springs Catholic Church choir. Dee was presented the St. Francis of Assisi Award from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for her charitable work in the Jemez community.
A Celebration of Life for Dee will be held at the Towne Park Community Center, 425 Towne Park Dr. NE in Albuquerque, from 2:00-5:00PM, May 9th, 2026.