Irene May Doan

Irene May Doan, 81, loving wife, mother, grandmother & great grandmother died August 21, 2014 from her battle with cancer with her family by her side in Salem, Oregon and went home to be with Jesus.

Irene was born February 25, 1933, in Monitor, Oregon to Arthur and Amelia Bremer. Her father was a farmer and her mother a housewife on their family farm in the Canby-Needy area where Irene spent summers working as well as picking hops and berries. She graduated from Canby High School in 1951 and then began working for State Accident Insurance Fund in Salem, Oregon where she continued to work for 27-1/2 years before retiring. She met and married Ed Mead in 1952 and divorced in 1975. She married Max Doan in May 1976 who preceded her in death in 1995. She has shared her last sixteen years with her best friend and dancing partner Leland Oliver.

She was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Aurora for many years and then Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Salem where she was currently a member. She belonged to the Salem #336 Lady of the Elks, Willamette Valley Jazz Society, Cherry City Red Hatters, Keizer-Salem Senior Center, Courthouse Athletic Club, Mt. Angel-Silverton Women's Connection Stonecroft Ministries and worked with various charities.

Her interests, time and energy were devoted to her family, gardening, flowers, dancing and her dog Ziggy. She will be remembered by some as "Three Bean Irene" for her home canned dilly beans, pickles and tomato juice and also her "Dancing Like the Stars" abilities. Irene truly enjoyed her beautiful flower garden as well as watching and feeding the hummingbirds that frequented her garden.

Irene is survived by her brother, Warren Bremer; daughter Linda (Terry) Lovis of Canby; stepson Ron (Mary Jane) Doan of Roseburg; stepdaughter Sunni (Len) York of Portland; 7 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; nieces & nephews and a host of cherished friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 28, 1:30pm at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon officiated by Pastor Karl Hester with reception following. Viewing will take place at Howell Edwards Doerksen Funeral Home in Salem, Oregon on August 27 from 2 to 5pm. Irene's final resting place is Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Oregon.

Donations may be sent to Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Salem, Gentiva Health Hospice Care in Salem or the American Cancer Society.