Doris Mary Graber

Born in Wapato, WA on October 3, 1918 to James and Gertrude Graber, Doris attended school in Wapato and continued her education at business school in Yakima. After getting her feet wet in the business world at Woolworths, Doris moved on to a long career at Yakima Federal Savings and Loan, where she retired at age 62. Throughout her life she was very active at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and after her retirement from banking, Doris volunteered her time by helping out in her parish office for many years.

Doris enjoyed traveling all over the west; visiting California, Hawaii, and the Oregon Coast. She also took pride in her fashion and decorating taste, searching for the perfect outfits and decorations in stores all over Yakima and Seattle. Doris loved her extended family of nieces and nephews and her many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She decorated her home with all of their photos and made sure that she updated everyone’s school photos each year. She attended as many of the graduations and weddings as she could, traveling to wherever she could to share in these great family events (from west to east coast). Doris had a wonderful sense of humor, always picking out funny birthday cards and the perfect holiday gifts. She often hosted Christmas or Thanksgiving at her beautifully decorated home for a large group of friends.

Doris enjoyed spending time in the mountains, becoming a very good skier in the early days of rope tows and chair lifts. She learned to love baseball from her mother, listening to Yankees games on the radio and keeping her own scorebook. Doris transferred her allegiance to the Mariners when they came along in 1977 and was an active and knowledgeable fan, even during the (mostly) lean years. She loved all the dogs she had throughout her life, with her most memorable Dachshund companions, Gretchen and Mandy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Gertrude Graber, her two brothers, Grant (Ruth) and Clifton (Opal), and her nephew James. She is survived by her three nieces: Janet (Jim) Hamer of Hood River, Dorothy (Rick) Lyle of Keizer, and Carol (Lynn) Carlson of Naches. Doris is also survived by her nephews: Gary (Peggy) Graber of Pasco and Guy (Trish) Graber of Othello. Her extended family of nieces and nephews will greatly miss their “Auntie Doris.”

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Reservation Community Memorial Park in Wapato. A Memorial Mass will follow at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul Cathedral Chapel, located at 15 S. 12th Avenue in Yakima, Father Ecker officiating.

As part of Doris’ service to her faith she was a member of Serra International, an organization devoted to promoting vocations in support of the Catholic ministerial priesthood. Please consider Serra International or a donation to the charity of your choice.