Doris June Robinson

Doris June Robinson was born in Tacoma, Wa on June 8, 1936 to parents Robert and Dora Ormsby and older brother Bob. She grew up in Tacoma and graduated from Stadium High School where she participated in the school's Rifle Club and competed at the national level.

Doris met the love of her life, Larry Robinson, while attending Stadium High. Their romance survived Larry’s service in the Navy through many letters to and from Japan, where he was stationed.

Doris attended Tacoma General Hospital school of nursing after graduating from high school. She became a Registered Nurse in 1957. Doris and Larry were married shortly after his return from military service, on Doris’ 21st birthday in 1957. They initially lived in east Tacoma on a small farm. Larry became a Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy and Doris worked as a nurse for a local doctor. Their son Dave was born in 1959, and son Jim followed 4 years later.

In 1964 the family moved to Enumclaw, Washington where Larry had been hired by the Enumclaw Police Dept. They built a house on two acres in rural Enumclaw where Doris could practice her love of gardening. In Enumclaw Doris worked for Dr. Adams and then Dr Robert Gramann at the Enumclaw Medical Center for many years. She cherished the last several years working for Dr. Gramann, helping with all the pregnant moms and new babies. She was a nurse for 30 years.

After retiring in the early 1990s, Doris and Larry moved to the Yakima area and built their dream home on five acres in the Nile Valley, west of Naches, near Chinook Pass. Their log home was truly a labor of love, naming it “Robinson’s back archers". Their love of birds led to having their property as a registered “backyard bird sanctuary”. Doris planted over 100 varieties of roses, as well as numerous other flowering trees, shrubs, perennial and annual flowers, not to mention their large vegetable garden. Doris was also a fabulous cook and loved baking for special occasions and holidays, often hosting at their home.

They were active in the Audubon Society, Lion’s Club and Nile Valley Community. They enjoyed many happy years living on the Nile attending bird outings and other local activities until Larry’s death from melanoma in 2015. Doris sold her home in 2021 and moved to Yakima when her health declined. She moved into Highgate Senior Living in 2022. Doris loved visits, trips to her favorite diner, Sweet Beez, for breakfast or lunch and the special family events held at Highgate. Doris received exceptional care from all the staff at Highgate until her death on May 1, 2026.

Doris is survived by her two sons Dave (Cindy) and Jim (Lora), as well as seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

We would like to thank the staff of Highgate Senior Living in Yakima for their excellent and loving care of Mom over the past 4 years. There will be a small graveside service at the Naches Cemetery on May 8th at 11:00am.