Helen D. Dooley's Obituary
Helen Dodds Dooley, died in the early hours on Friday, June 9, 2017 after a brief illness. She was a warm and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who will be missed every day. Her life was full of blessings and sorrows that shaped her into the woman that brought joy and delight to others for 97 years.
Helen Gordon Dodds was born in Lawrence, Kansas to Caryl J Dodds and Annabelle Crawford Dodds. Her mother died when she was six years old.
Helen graduated from Lawrence High School in 1937 and went to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. After receiving her A.A. degree, she completed her B.S. degree at Kansas State University in Home Economics. She married Donald Edwin Dooley on August 29, 1941.
Helen gave birth to four children: John Edwin, Mary Francis, Elizabeth Ann and Margaret Caryl. Helen and Don lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin until WWII began. After a brief time in Chicago, Helen and John moved back to Lawrence, Kansas to live with her father and her stepmother, Mary Jamison Dodds. After Donald’s honorable discharge from the military, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they resided until 1949. Donald was hired by Weyerhaeuser Timber Company as their first Internal Auditor. They moved to Tacoma, Washington and built a home on property by Steilacoom Lake in Lakewood.
Helen led the organization of Chapter DV, PEO, in 1950 and was very involved in raising money for scholarships and loans for women as well as developing lifelong bonds with her Sisters in DV. Helen and Donald volunteered for many committees and leadership roles in the Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood, Washington. The family camped and traveled around the western United States. In 1974, Donald accepted a position with two Weyerhaeuser-owned companies in Jakarta, Indonesia. Helen loved her two years in Indonesia and fully embraced the life of an ex-pat. Helen and Donald traveled extensively throughout their retirement.
Upon their return from Indonesia, Helen was elected to the Washington State Chapter of PEO. She worked hard for seven years on the Board and was State President in 1987. Her convention has the distinction of being the only Washington convention ever held in Oregon at the University of Portland.
Helen loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother to 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Alisa Dooley Yamamoto (Jerry), Glenn Dooley (Sonja), Sean Dooley, Erin Dooley Solomon (Barry), Melissa Coleman (Brett), Alexis Herzog (Nick), Michael Larsen (Allison) and Christopher Larsen (Karla), Jennifer Rhyne (Chris) and Richard Fulton Schmalz II (Michaela).
Helen resided in Corvallis, Oregon with her daughter Meg for the last nine years. She and Meg traveled and cruised to a multitude of foreign countries. She did prefer warm locations but had the distinction of being moored in Boston during Hurricane Sandy!
Helen was preceded in death by her father, mother, stepmother, her brother Jack Dodds, her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Schmalz and her husband of 59 years Donald E Dooley.
Helen is survived by her children: John E Dooley (Laurie), Mary D Larsen (Lowell) and Margaret C Dooley. In addition, her loss will be felt by her son-in-law Richard F Schmalz and her former daughter-in-law Susan G Dooley. Donations in her memory may be made to PEO or to Stephens College.
Helen is gone but not forgotten for she has left her imprint on the hearts of all who knew her and her hand to all the good works she completed.
A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Helen will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017 in the Celebration of Life Center, Aspen Chapel. A reception will immediately follow in the Willow Room at Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park.
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