Doris M. Williams

Doris Marie (Forrester) Williams, age 76, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2012 at her home surrounded by family. She was born on January 14, 1936 on the family farm in Damascus, VA. Her parents Fronia (Prater) Forrester and George Forrester moved the family from Virginia to Longview, WA where she grew up.

Doris attended R.A. Long High School, graduating in the Class of ’54. Doris’ passion for life, laughter and love earned her numerous lifelong friends. It was in Longview that Doris met the love of her life, Don Williams. After they married, Doris and Don relocated to the Seattle area in 1959 where they raised three sons and 7 grandchildren whom she showered with love and affection.

Doris had a career in retail with the Bon Marche, starting as a Salesperson and ending her career in Human Resources. Doris was a fervent sports fan, particularly Huskies football, as well as any sport her children or grandchildren played. She was always their biggest fan. Doris was a skilled gardener, making her yard come alive with blooms each year. She shared this skill with her church, where she was a vibrant, valued member. Doris and Don loved to travel and visited their friends and relatives all over the country. She loved to play games, especially cards, which is where her competitive spirit came out, much to everyone’s delight.

Doris fiercely loved life and people, especially her family and friends. She had a way of making anybody in her presence feel as though they were the most important person in the world, even people she just met. She was an eternal optimist and genuinely accepted people for who they were, without ever passing judgment. She will forever be remembered as a kind and loving friend, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. Her sense of humor and immense courage, especially in the face of ALS, were inspirational and she will be deeply missed.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her beloved husband Don, her sons, Steve (Val), Scott (Angie) and Kevin (Kelley), her brother John Forrester (Linda), her grandchildren, Jimi, Kevin, Jr., Kelsey, Kyle, Amanda (Tyler), Erika and Megan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Doris’s life will be held at the Mill Creek Community Church, 16415 North Road

Mill Creek, WA 98012 on January 2, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. In addition, a service will be held in Longview, WA at the First Christian Church, 2000 E. Kessler on January 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations in Doris’s honor be given to the Evergreen Chapter of the ALS Association (webwa.alsa.org), or to Evergreen Hospice (evergreenhealth.com/hospice).