Doris Brewer Gilbert

Doris Brewer Gilbert, 80, passed peacefully on May 6, 2018 in Vancouver, Washington. Doris, the daughter of Theodore "Sam" and Annie (Hatch) Brewer, was born in Wildersville, Tennessee in 1938. A lifelong Christian, Doris’ faith gives us the hope that we will see her again but for now, we celebrate her earthly life and the legacy she leaves behind.

On June 11, 1955, Doris married the love of her life, W.C. (Pat) Gilbert and moved from Tennessee to California to be a navy wife. Doris and Pat traveled the world, living in many different states and abroad while Pat completed his 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy. After he retired, Doris and Pat moved to Portland, Oregon, where they owned and operated McDonald’s restaurants and she helped her husband run the business. Doris also served as an officer in the PTA, was a reading tutor for many years, and ran her household beautifully.

Family and friends were the most treasured gifts in Doris’ life. She is the beloved mother of Steven and Cheryl. As their mother, Doris gave her children unconditional love and always modeled for them a commitment to generosity. She was a very charitable and loving person; she gave freely of her time and blessings to anyone who needed her help, especially her loved ones. In fact, when Doris became a grandmother, she focused her generous heart on her three granddaughters. She treasured the magic of childhood, making sure her grandchildren experienced the wonder of birthdays, Christmases, Disney, dolls, and Saturday morning cartoons. Her commitment to their happiness, well-being, and future knew no bounds. Doris was the cornerstone of her family and with the legacy she leaves behind, Doris ensured that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would always know love, the importance of charity, the need to nurture a curious mind, and the power of devotion to others.

In her many roles in life as wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, Doris always shared her fiery spirit, strong mind, and caring heart. Her love for history and reading were contagious and she passed this passion down to her children and grandchildren, leaving behind recovered family histories and artifacts and an impressive collection of books. Doris was a fierce competitor and loved to play card games and dominos, often staying up all night to finish rook marathons with her family and friends. As a young girl, she played sports such as basketball, never letting her small stature (she proudly stated she was 5’2 but the truth might be 5’) stand in the way of her dominating the court. And as she aged, she channeled her love of sports into supporting the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Diego Chargers, along with a few others. She enjoyed the occasional trip to the casino to play the slot machines. She loved to travel and was fortunate to be able to visit almost all the states and numerous countries around the world. Doris was an incredible cook, as anyone who was lucky enough to sample her culinary delights will tell you, and always made her homemade cakes for family birthdays.

Doris is survived by her husband of 63 years, W.C. Gilbert, her children, Steven (Dee) Gilbert and Cheryl Gilbert Cundiff, her granddaughters, Nicole (Seth) Prince, Ashley (Taylor) Barnes-Gilbert and Sarah Cundiff (fiancé Paul Farler), and her four great grandchildren, Cadence, Rowan, Weslan and Lucille.

Doris will be laid to rest at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation in Doris' name to The Ronald McDonald House Charities. An organization that she held near to her heart and would be proud to have a lasting legacy in her name. Please visit their website for more information or to complete a donation: http://support.rmhc.org/site/PageNavigator/pw/Donation_Landing.html