Biography: Margaret Dean Colvert Velez was born on 10/30/22 in Fordyce, Arkansas, weighing only three pounds. She departed this world and went to be with God on 5/19/08 at the age of 85. She was preceded in death by her parents Bryan and Myrtle Colvert, a sister Virginia Colvert Vickers who died of ovarian cancer in 1979, a brother Randall Colvert who died of lung cancer in 1981, a sister Carol Colvert who died of ovarian cancer in 1987, and a daughter Dr. Debra Lynn Velez Owings who died of breast cancer in 1995. She is survived by her husband of 61 years Miguel (Mike) Velez, younger son and “best friend” Michael Wayne Velez, older son Dr. Louis Duane Velez (UAMS med school class of 1976) and his wife Debra, sister Bobbie Gladish and her husband Curtis, granddaughters Elizabeth Velez Martinez (John Brown University class of 2000) and her husband Adrion, Jennifer Velez Malone (UALR class of 2003) and her husband Josh, Meredith Velez (LRCA class of 2011)and Rachel Owings (UAMS med school class of 2012), and grandsons Richie Owings (UAMS med school class of 2009) and Alex Owings, (Tulane law school class of 2010), 3 great-children, Isabelle, Jake and Addison Martinez and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends. All of her older grandchildren without exception, have completed an undergraduate degree and have completed a masters degree, medical school or law school. The last year of her life on earth she and her husband, Mike, lived in a beautiful apartment at Andover Place. She loved living there because she didn’t have “to cook, clean or even buy toilet paper” and made many new friends. Everyday she dressed up to go to meals. She loved dressing up. For special events she spent hours planning the perfect outfit, shoes, jewelry and all. She loved talking on the telephone to her friends and relatives. She was a Christian believer and was baptized at the age of 15 in a pond in south Arkansas. She and her family attended Southwest Presbyterian Church from 1959 to 1987 and now are members of Parkway Place Presbyterian Church. She truly was a remarkable woman. She battled a life threatening cancer 5 times and won each time. This is not a misprint. She had cancer 5 times and even a 6th and 7th nonlife-threatening skin cancer treated by surgery. She had breast cancer in 1964 treated with surgery, uterine cancer in 1976 treated with surgery and Cobalt radiation, breast cancer again in 1984 treated by surgery, female cancer in 1988 treated by surgery, and recurrent female cancer in 1984 treated by a total exoneration. She lived with two ostomies for 20 years. The amazing thing is that none of her family has ever heard her complain. She accepted the cancers as God’s will and persevered. The only time she complained was when she thought someone was mistreating one of her 3 kids, 6 grandkids, or 3 great-grandkids. She picked cotton, helped raise her younger sisters and brother who fondly called her “Sister,” taught high school at Poyen, Arkansas, after completing two years of college during World War II, in the mid 40’s left the country and moved to the city where she worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in Little Rock and St. Louis after marrying. After she raised her children she returned to work managing the lingerie department at West’s Department store on Baseline Road for many years. She was very gifted with her ability to visualize and design her own dresses as a young woman. As a mother, she loved to sew for her children, especially design frilly dresses for her daughter, Debbie. Margaret enjoyed having fun with her friends and family, always having a keen sense of humor. Although she was the least formally educated person in her family, she was definitely the smartest. She has always been full of common sense. She is always described as sweet, and has often been much help encouraging others with cancer. Her family and many others thank God for 85 years on this earth with us. Her family also thanks her many doctors and nurses and others at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center. A celebration of her life will be held at 1 P.M., Thursday, May 22, 2008, at Ruebel Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the celebration service. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Margaret C Velez Memorial fund at any Metropolitan Branch, to be used to help medical students interested in treating cancer, and to pay for their training.