Doris Jeanette Shields

Doris was the 2nd of 5 children born to Matthew and Pearl Davidson of Oak Hill, KS. She graduated from Longford Rural High School in 1950. and married Danny Shields in 1952. Their family grew at a brisk pace, to 6 children by 1961. After living in many homes in several western states, a visit to Portland, OR in the summer of 1967 ended up lasting the rest of their years.

Doris was quick to establish roots in Portland, finding a church home and engaging children in scouting and other activities. She honed her skills at cooking, which she mostly attributed to her mother-in-law O’Rena, at the Brite Spot restaurant at SE 48th & Hawthorne. Her favorite shift was breakfast but her homemade soups and desserts, enjoyed over her 28 years of service, were legendary. Her husband Danny passed away early in her retirement.

Doris doted on her grandchildren and great grandchildren as much as their parents would oblige, marveling at each’s personality and energy. She spent 25 consecutive birthdays with most of them at the Oregon coast, and took some under her wing for longer visits at her home.

As if all those children were not enough for Doris, in retirement she volunteered at Central Christian Academy for more than 15 years. She was proud to follow the children from kindergarten to high school graduation and even beyond.

Her personal favorite subject had been geography and she enjoyed traveling, especially road trips. Beyond the numerous family trips to most of the National Parks of the West and more, she accompanied her musician husband Danny to many music conventions around the country. She continued to travel, and in her later years made annual treks to Kansas, until her health made it difficult.

Never far from a sewing machine, Doris used her creative love to make quilts with a group of dedicated women at her church known as The Palidelphians. Over the course of 40 years, she made countless numbers of quilts. She was still assembling and sewing blocks right up to her passing.

Doris was pre-deceased by her parents, brothers Robert and Merwin Davidson, sister Donna Nichols, husband Danny, and son James Sr. She is survived by her sister Helen Davidson, children Gary, William (Ruthie), Cheryl St. Paul, Kathy Shields-Roeter (Richard), and Michael (Cindy), 10 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 1:00pm. Location is Central Christian Church, 1844 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be live-streamed on Central Christian’s YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_rqAIz9gee_83RKrmlXLQ/featured

Remembrances may be made in her name to Central Christian Academy at Central Christian Church.