Doris E. Graham

Doris Graham was born November 24, 1922 in Augusta, Montana to Roy and Anna Wilson. Childhood memories include living on a ranch with her five siblings. In 1936 Doris left the ranch to attend Helena High. After graduating she worked at the telephone company. In 1943 she was transferred to Spokane, Washington. She met Ellsworth Graham after the war ended, and the couple married in 1946. They had three children: Linda (1947), Larry (1950) and Roberta (1951). Ellsworth was in the building business and he and Doris enjoyed working together on houses in and around Spokane and the Palouse country. They became wonderful friends over the years with owners of custom homes they built. I 1966 Doris worked in accounts receivable at Bell Furniture.

Doris had great memories raising her children. She enjoyed being a Cub Scout Den Mother and was also in the Camp Fire program. Camping trips to nearby lakes and to Montana where Doris grew up were an annual event. Ellsworth’s great love of the sea led to having a sailboat in the San Juans and another on Coeur d’Alene Lake: wonderful memories with the children and grandchildren to the San Juan Islands and Canada every summer. Fishing trips to Coeur d’Alene Lake, Canada and Ketchikan, Alaska were enjoyed by the couple.

A lake cabin built in 1968 by Ellsworth and son, Larry, on Coeur d’Alene Lake has been enjoyed by the family every summer. A few years ago Doris returned to a Montana ranch close to where she grew up. She, her daughters and one granddaughter visited the son of the people who had once owned the property. It was a very memorable trip!

Doris, known as “Nana” or “Grandma G.G.” has loved telling stories to her grandchildren and great grandchildren of her Montana childhood, living in a two room log cabin with a family of eight; no running water or plumbing, no refrigeration, no electricity, and only a kerosene lamp to provide light. Her family never tires of hearing those wonderful stories from the past!

Doris has had many friends over the years, including continued correspondence with those from Helena High. Doris loved to talk on the telephone, keeping in touch with many friends and family on birthdays and important occasions.

Doris’ love of dancing along with her husband, Ellsworth, led to their dancing every Friday night. She enjoyed working together on El Katif Shrine projects as well as visiting many countries with the group.

Doris loved to garden and had been a member of two garden clubs over the years. Her favorite time of the year is when she can get outside with her pitchfork and shovel and go to work in her flowerbeds, watching her garden come to life with color! As many can attest, she loved to share her flowers with friends and family.

Some of the ways she is fondly remembered are generous, compassionate, giving, dignified, loving, stunning, possessing a great sense of humor, and as a truly classy lady.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Ellsworth Graham (2002); son, Larry Graham (1969 Vietnam); brother, Jerry Wilson; sisters, Gladys Church and Louise Gerhold. She is survived by her sister, Alma Craig; brother, Frederick Wilson, both near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; daughters, Linda Boston of Gig harbor, WA, Robbie Dennie of Spokane; granddaughters, Nicole Palacios of Las Vegas, NV, Jessica McMackin, Kimberly McComb both of Chattaroy, WA; grandson, Christopher Boston of Portland, OR; great grandchildren, Alex and Lauren McMackin, Julian Palacios, Emma Boston; and many nieces and nephews.

At her request only private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children, 911 W. Fifth Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204; or to Cancer Care NW, 1204 N Vercler Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.

Summing up her life Doris said, “I worked hard, I played hard … and want everyone to do the same!”