Dorothy Josephine Powell

She was born in Chehalis, Wash., June 6, 1925, to Hulda and Steve McMahan. Dorothy grew up in Swofford Valley east of Mossyrock. She attended first grade at Riffe School, a one-room school across the road from her home on her paternal grandparent’s property. She then attended Mossyrock School, graduating from eighth grade as valedictorian. Dorothy met Harold Powell when he started seventh grade at Mossyrock. They started dating Nov. 9 1941. after he graduated from high school.

Dorothy married Harold Feb. 8, 1943, after he received his draft notice. Three days later, Harold left for Fort Lewis and Dorothy finished her senior year at Mossyrock, graduating in May, again valedictorian with a 3.93 GPA and received the Senior Honor Award for the girls.

She worked three weeks at JC Penney, before leaving by train June 26, 1944, with a trunk and two suitcases for Greenville, Pa., near Camp Shenango, where Harold had been recently transferred from Camp Hood Texas. In September, she again moved to Hyannis, Mass., near Camp Edwards, where Harold was transferred for amphibian training for the invasion of France. She worked there as a grocery store clerk. On Dec. 7, 1943, Harold was transferred to Camp Gordon Johnson in Florida and Dorothy moved again to Apalachicola, Fla., about 25 miles from his camp. They lived in Apalachicola until he shipped to England April 1, 1944 and Dorothy made a lonely journey back to Swofford Valley.

In May, she moved to Chehalis to work at the Boeing Sub-Plant, bucking rivets and later worked in the office. When the war ended in April of 1945, the plant closed. She worked three months at the Chehalis Extension Office and later at Sears, until Harold returned home Jan. 5, 1946.

They lived in Swofford Valley briefly before moving to Seattle in April with the plans of Harold attending the University of Washington. In July 1947, when pregnant and sick with her second child, they moved back to Swofford Valley and in May 1948 they bought their current home in Salkum.

Dorothy and Harold loved to camp and pick huckleberries. Summers involved many family overnight hiking trips in the Cascades and hunting trips in the fall. She enjoyed reading and loved gardening, out of pleasure and necessity with a family of eight to feed. Besides canning her harvest from the garden, she canned everything possible. Everyone loved her great cooking and hospitality.

In 1987 they took a three month trip with their trailer to Alaska and visited many friends and places they had read about and wanted to visit. It was a trip they both loved and talked about for years. They both enjoyed visiting and listening to people’s stories and had many of their own to tell. One of her major accomplishments was writing a cookbook of favorite family recipes and publishing a book in 2013 titled Our Story that she and Harold worked on together for 18 years, telling their life story. Both are treasured gifts they gave to their children and grandchildren. She dearly loved her family and extended family and showed it in many ways.

She belonged to a non-denominational worldwide fellowship of New Testament Christians, loved to read her Bible and embraced Jesus teachings.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold of 71 years in 2014; son, Gary in 1997; two daughters, Elaine Jasperson in 2010 and Linda Welch in 2011; granddaughter, Heather Youngren in 2016; brothers, Lloyd McMahan in 1982 and a baby brother in 1923.

She is survived by a son, Harold Jr. of Salkum; two daughters, Ellen (Richard) Berdan of Salkum and Diane (Bill) Taylor of Tenino; 12 grandchildren;18 great-grandchildren; and a half-brother, David McMahan of Idaho.

Thanks to all who visited Dorothy in recent years. A special thanks to Deanna Brooks for her devoted care to Dorothy.

“We held you in our arms for a little while,

but will hold you in our hearts forever.”

Viewing will be Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Services will be Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 at 1 p.m., at Sticklin Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold St., Centralia, Wash. Graveside services will follow at the Shoestring Cemetery off Hwy 508 at 104 Frase Rd., Onalaska Wash. All are invited to a potluck reception at the Shoestring Church adjacent to the cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sticklin Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold St., Centralia, WA 98531. 360-736-1388.