Dorene Anna Sutton

Dorene Anna Sutton of Wapato passed away September 11, 2012 in Yakima, WA. Dorene was born on November 20, 1938 and was one of eight children born to George and Thelma Sharpnack. She grew up in Selah, WA. She spent a lot of time with her best friend Gertrude. They liked riding one bicycle together, roller skating, going to horror movies and then walking home in the dark. Dorene enjoyed hiking in the hills and taking walks when the first snow fell. She graduated from Selah High School in 1957 and then went out to Seattle to work at the cannery while living with her sister Rene.

In 1958 she met her husband George and they were married on December 19, 1959 at the Highline Methodist Church in DesMoines, WA. Their first home was in Auburn, WA. Dorene filled her busy schedule with homemaking and being a mother to their 5 daughters.

Dorene was on bowling leagues and won some awards. Another interest was cooking. Dorene was a wonderful cook and enjoyed cooking and preparing meals for family and friends. In the early years she and George and the girls went on camping trips in the summer. In 1971 she joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church and then in 1973 she and George moved to Douglasville, GA where they made some of their closest friends. Then in 1974 she and George moved back to Washington and then, in 1975, moved to Redlands, CA. In California she enjoyed going to the lake with the family. Dorene always looked forward to the holidays and special occasions. She loved the Christmas season most of all and had collections of mice, snowmen, and christmas villages displayed around the house.

Dorene and George traveled throughout many states from Washington to Tennesse. One of her joys in life was traveling with George to visit their daughters and their families after they had grown.

In 1983 Dorene and George moved back to Washington State and then finally settled in Wapato in 1999 following George’s retirement. She loved having the family come to visit and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Her greatest joy in life was giving to her family. She always thought of others first. In 2009 Dorene and George celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Dorene is survived by her husband George; daughters Jacqueline Marie Semones, Janine Louise Rasmussen, Holly Ann Bennett, Hope Denise Ashbaugh, and April Dawn King; sister Marsha Bright, grandchildren Scott, Nicholas, Lindsey, Ben, Megan, Justin, Samantha, Brittany, Stephanie, Kayla, Madison, and Braden; great-grandchildren Elijah, Noah, and Masen. Dorene was preceded in death by both parents; brothers Bud, Daryl, Elvin, and Dale; and sisters Rene and Marylou.

Visitation will be held Sunday, September 16, 2012 from 2-5 p.m. at Merritt funeral Home in Wapato. The Funeral Service will be on Monday, September 17, 2012 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the All Nations Center in Wapato with burial to follow at Reservation Community Memorial Park.