She was born on June 8, 1934 in Alberta, Canada and was loved into an active, caring life by her grandparents in Calgary. Immigrating to the U.S. for college she graduated from Seattle Pacific College and moved to Pasadena, California where she met Don and started married life. They moved to Princeton where Don studied and she taught at a demonstration school at Trenton State. Their three children were born in the complexity of New Jersey. In 1966 Kurt was born in Princeton and exactly two and three years later Lynn and Suzanne were born in Camden where Don was teaching at Rutgers University. The family moved from New Jersey to Washington State in 1973 and Doris continued her education career at Whitworth University.
Doris was passionate about enjoying and exploring the world with her family. Two and a half months in a VW van in 16 European countries, with a side trip to Israel, made the family permanent joyous travelers, and that was only trip number one. Many trips with “all the cousins” have kept family travel alive.
In 1987 Doris added a Ph.D. from Gonzaga University to her Whitworth Masters and became Whitworth’s director of student teaching. In Guatemala, Hawaii, and Kenya she taught beginning teachers the importance of knowing your students before you try to teach them. Doris led Whitworth church members and University students together in a teaching and ministry trip to Kenya. She then brought her student-centered approach to Spokane, when she started the West Central tutoring program. She was the chair of the Mission Commission of Whitworth Church and of the Westminster House Committee at Westminster Church where for many years she was known simply as the “The Homework Helper Lady”. Doris was honored in 2000 by governor Gary Locke with the “Washington State Award for Excellence in Teacher Preparation.” She also received recognition for her work in creating Homework Helpers and Logos from the West Central community. In 2002 the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Denomination added its affirmation that “In addition to being an excellent model as a teacher, Doris is also a terrific role model of the Christian educator. She integrates her faith with her teaching in such a way that her students and colleagues see her living her faith days-in and days-out.”
In 2007 Doris set up a student teaching system for Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan.
Doris is survived by her husband Don, of 57 years, and children, Kurt (Sarah Hunt), Lynn (Patrick Caruso), Suzanne (Curt Marble). Her legacy will live on in her 8 adoring grandchildren, Carlee (Bryce), Eric, Isaac, Max, Samuel, Luke, Eli, Ellie, and two great granddaughters Tatum and Rylee.
A celebration of Doris’ life will be held at Whitworth Presbyterian Church on January 11 at 10:00 a.m. with a luncheon to follow.
Donations may be made in Doris’ memory to the Westminster Presbyterian Church House / Food Pantry or to Forman Christian College.
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