Dorothy Lorraine (Boehmer) Foraker passed away peacefully at her residence on November 17th 2019, at 11:58 pm. Born to Joseph John Boehmer and Olga M. Amundson in Devil’s Lake, N.D. on November 19, 1920, Dorothy was the eldest of 8 children, 2 of whom succumbed to early childhood diseases. It is a fitting metaphor for Dorothy’s life that she was born the year that women got the vote. She lived her life as a strong, capable, independent woman, walking alongside her husband of 67 years, in creating the strength of her family.
Her early childhood was spent on a farm in North Dakota but the family moved to White Bluffs, Washington in 1935. Her mother chose the city after a penny postcard campaign to various Chambers of Commerce to find out which farming areas in the Northwest had a lot of fruit tree orchard interests. Dorothy finished her high school years in Southeastern WA, graduating from Pasco, WA High School after the town of White Bluffs had been absorbed into the Hanford Atomic Plant project. The thrill of her High School years was as a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps of White Bluffs which was chosen as the entertainment feature at the ceremony where President Roosevelt activated an operation of the Grand Coulee Dam into action from a switch in his office in Washington D.C. in the late ‘30’s before the dam became fully operational in 1941.
While working as a nurse’s aide at the Pasco Hospital, after graduation from High School, Dorothy met and married Verne L. Foraker, resident of Kennewick, WA. All of their children, Lynne Colleen (Manning), Allen Shane, Lois Elayne, and Molly Gayle were born in the Tri Cities area prior to the family moving to Snohomish County in 1948. Dorothy was often heard to say that moving to Everett was one of the best decisions they ever made. She loved her life in Everett.
Dorothy also loved her family. She is survived by two daughters, Lynne Colleen Manning, and Lois Elayne Foraker, daughter-in-law, Janet, as well as grandchildren, Eric, Terrence (Delores) and Andrew (Rachel) Foraker; Angela and Mark Manning; Nancy Floyd; David Brown and Sean Matheney; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was a fabulous cook. She loved the sociability of it and everyone was always welcome at her table. Her coffee pot had oasis status for family and friends. It was no coincidence that her first job in Everett was at Watkins Bakery on Hewitt, near Rockefeller. She went on to work at Scott Paper Company for 27 years, where she made many friendships that lasted a lifetime. People enjoyed her wit, her conversation, her laugh and penchant for great jokes.
Dorothy and Verne lived for 17 years in a log cabin that they built with their own hands, on the South Fork of the Stillaguamish as it meandered through Granite Falls. They loved the cabin and welcomed any and all who stopped by for a visit. Moving back to their home in Everett as they aged they were so very happy to resume the neighborhood friendships that were waiting for them.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Olga Boehmer; husband Verne L. Foraker; son Allen Shane Foraker, daughter Molly Gayle Hatziliadis; granddaughter, Melissa Titus; great granddaughter, Jacqui Foraker; siblings, LaVone, Helen, Virgil, Donald, and Neva. She is survived by two sisters, Arlene Nordleaf of Bremerton and Billie Reed of Walla Walla; and half-sister, Noreen Boehmer of Los Angeles. Dorothy was also the beloved, fun loving and generous Aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy took great delight in many of life’s gifts but she particularly loved crows and trees. She REALLY loved it when the crows sat on the branches of the huge, beautiful camphor tree that sat outside her kitchen window, letting her know when it was time to feed them. If you want to memorialize your relationship with Dorothy in some measure, please plant a tree in her name. It can be the Dorothy tree, in the ground, in a pot, by your own hand, or through a donation to one of the many non-profits dedicated to planting trees for the good of the planet. Your choice…. That would be the most fitting way to remember her life. Oh yes, and maybe pick up a loaf of day old bread at a bakery outlet and feed the crows with a treat or two. They might become friends for life…crows are like that.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 26th from 1-3 p.m. at Legion Hall - 145 Alverson Blvd, Everett WA 98201. Light refreshments will be served. Those who have planted trees in memory of Dorothy are encouraged to bring photos of the trees for display at the gathering.
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