Doris Louise Emmons

Doris Louise Emmons passed away peacefully on February 2, 2017, at Izzy’s Adult Family Home in Yakima. She was born December 13, 1932, to Albert and Ruby Gammons. She grew up on the family farm of potatoes, apples and pears. Being the second daughter she soon became the “son” that Albert never had. Throughout her young life she worked the farm with her father. She had many horse tales of driving the horse teams through the orchard at harvest time “swamping” the harvested produce. Grandpa also taught her the love of the outdoors, gardening and vegetable growing. Her mother passed away when Doris was just 16, which left her with a deep loneliness. She soon met Donald C Emmons, a recent Navy veteran, on a blind date arranged by her sister. Doris graduated from Naches High School June 1951 and on January 12, 1952 Don and Doris were married at the Lower Naches Congregational Bible Church. They just recently celebrated their 65 wedding anniversary.

When her father passed away in 1963 Don and Doris were able to purchase the ranch and they continued to farm it together. Mom took much pride in the fact that this was her family’s legacy, that this was her family’s land. With the exception of a few years when they lived in Selah, Doris lived all of her 84 years on this ranch. Her great love was gardening. She always took pride in the perfect yard with beautiful flowers and well-groomed grounds. She was a member of the Lower Naches Garden Club, the Lower Naches Women’s Club, and the Lower Naches Congregational Church.

Doris’ other great love was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She had such a special place for each of us and she always made us feel that we were her special one. As the grandkids got older it seemed that they would spend just as much time at Grandma’s as they did their own houses and when they started driving they would always “toot” their car horns each time they passed Grandma’s house just to let her know they were thinking about her. She was so loving and special to each of us.

Doris enjoyed trips to Hawaii, NY City, Chicago, Washington DC, Orlando and the east coast. She also enjoyed her annual Christmas shopping, theater, and dining trips to Seattle. Don and Doris purchased a park model home in Scottsdale, Arizona and enjoyed warm, sunny winters for several years. They especially enjoyed it when their children or grandchildren would visit and enjoy the weather with them. She also loved to go camping in the 5th wheel when the ranch work would lessen and allow them to travel. Mom’s absolute favorite vacation however, was in 1999 when all her children and their children traveled together for 10 days to Maui. Mom was surrounded by all of her family and that was her happiest time.

Mom battled breast cancer twice in her life, in her 40’s and again in her 60’s. Her deep Christian faith and strong will helped her overcome the cancer. In her early 70’s mom started developing signs of dementia and after many years it was that dementia that finally took her from us. With the help of loving care givers: Maggie B Cortez, Marla Prante, Charis Prante, and Jacque Groff, we were able to keep mom in her precious home for many years. We would also like to thank Cheryl and Del Miles and their loving, caring staff at Miles Adult Family Homes and the Memorial Hospice team, you are all very special people.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Albert Keith Gammons, Ruby Elston Gammons, her sister Leanna Tissell, son-in-law Dale F Schmidt and longtime care giver and friend Maggie B Cortez. She is survived by her husband Donald C Emmons, brother-in-law Wilbur (Lynn) Emmons, sister-in-law Martha Myers, three children: Teresa L Camfield (Michael), Lynden, Judy Schmidt Gano (Wade), Selah, and Franklin Emmons (Michelle), Gleed, granddaughters: Erin (Kory) Mattson, Wenatchee, Kathleen (Clayton) Levien, Lynden, Staci (Jonathan Assouline) Emmons, Mill Creek, Alison (Juan) Crisostomo, Gleed, and Jennifer Spoelstra (Jared), Ferndale, Geneva (Josh Paddison) Gano, San Marcos, TX, grandsons: Keith (Elyse) Schmidt, Olympia, Dylan (Heather) Emmons, Tieton, Jake (Joan Haab) Gano, San Diego, great grandchildren: Ava and Adrian Crisostomo, Mavrick and Sydney Levien, Chloe and Caleb Mattson, Haines Spoelstra, Dorothy Paddison and Roy Gano.

Funeral service will Saturday, February 25, 10:00 AM at the Rainier Memorial Center, Terrace Heights.

To celebrate the life of Doris and share a memory visit www.keithandkeith.com.

Mom you are finally at peace. We will miss you terribly especially in the spring when your roses start to bloom. We will continue to “toot” our horns as we drive by and we know that we will see you again.