M. Nikki Dore

January 4, 1943 - December 30, 2014

Our loving Nikki passed away peacefully at home on December 30, 2014. She was born January 4, 1943 in Galveston, Texas to Merrill and Wanda Doré. She served in the United States Navy from 1960 to 1964. She had a great sense of humor, and had a big heart. She loved camping, coffee, a smoke, and her many, many dogs. Nikki lived in Durango, Colorado, a place she held dear, and in San Diego, California after being honorably discharged from the Navy. In 1971, she moved to Salt Lake where she was an avid participant in showing Borzois, and made many friends in the dog show world. In 1991, while working for the N.A.C., she met Sjanie Best, her partner and best friend of 23 years. She became an instant parent to Sjanie’s three children. The kids referred to her as their “second mom”. In the bargain, she also got Sjanie’s mother, Audrey. An open house was held for Nikki on December 14 for her family and friends, in which she decided that it was better to have a wake while you were alive instead of gone. There will be no funeral service at this time, but there will be a gathering for family and friends at a later date. Nikki is survived by her loving partner and soul mate, Sjanie Best, and her three children Geoff (Anastasia), Sjanie Maye (Shane), and Mike, and seven grandchildren. Also survived by her dogs Juno and Beau.