Virginia Paulette Doran's Obituary
Lady of Loving Valor
The lady with a giving heart has returned to God, who created her and gave her to us for these last 70 years! Virginia Paulette (LaMarche) Doran was born April 24,1946 in the city of Tacoma, Washington. She was the sixth child of seven children born to Harold Jack LaMarche and Pauletta Esther (Lohan) LaMarche.
Virginia's childhood was one that centered around the downtown area of Tacoma. She attended Central Grade School, Jason Lee and Stadium High School. Her most familiar area was Wright's Park where as a young teen she learned ping pong and became ping pong champion of the Metro Park System. It was also the where a few years later met her husband of 53 years, Harold Ray Doran. Virginia became his bride in Coerd'Alene, Idaho on October 12,1963. They have two children: Susan Ann (Green) 1964 and Kenneth Ray 1969.
Virginia was an endearing woman of Great Faith in Godans always found ways to love and serve others from fixing a great meal and keeping her home clean, peaceful and warm with an eye for decorative color and style! In those years she was a stay at home Mom who tended to raising in a peaceful atmosphere with an open heart to care for her children's friends when they came to the house. Her talents of hospitality were always appreciated by Harold and Virginia's friends and neighbors through out all their years together.
Her greatest Faith expression came the day her beloved father, Harold LaMarche died. She had been caring for him since her mother mother Esther had died a few years before. Her greatest fear as a child was was that her father might die because of heart problems while living at home during her early years. The day her Dad died she experienced and overwhelming comfort and peace from the Holy Spirit! From that moment on God was so real to her and guided her to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and to be a servant of His until the day she left us, December 26, 2016. She had an amazing testimony she always shared.
Her world began to expand from that experience all the more as her children advanced in thier teenage years. Virginia took a job as a cleaning as a cleaning person at the Palisades Retreat House in Federal Way WA in 1978. During her time there she met her friend, Michael Ortega, administrator of the retreat house and through their time together they became a great team for serving others for these last 38 years of her life! They were able to forma healing/counseling/teaching ministry for hundreds of people on the Seattle - Tacoma and Western Washington area.
In 1982 she became a counseling assistant at the Salvation Army Center on Puyallup Avenue. The team became their chaplain - counseling team that touched the lives of many of the men that came through those doors for two years. Many of the men to this day remember the encouraging way in which she was able to help them take a step-up to a more fulfilling life.
Virginia took up a more natural way of helping others. As a child she was influenced through her grandfather, Harold LaMarche, who was the first Naturopathic doctor registered in Arizona, in the 1900's. Through Virginia's study and research and her inquisitive nature she acquired a sense of well being established upon naturopathic ways for her own self-care and for all those that belived in her and sought her out for advice to live a wholesome life change,
In 1985 she took up the art and science of Reflexology! She fulfilled a dream to become a reflexologist by study, courses and workshops conducted by the International Institute of Relexology in Vancouver Canada. Anyone who had her do your hands of feet know knows the power of her healing touch! To add to this, she also took courses in this time period to become a Nutritional Counselor in 1990.
Because of her training, education and abilities with fascinating results as she was an important part of developing with her partner, Michael Ortega, the Holy Spirit's House of Healing Ministries. Together they offered healing treatments for all who came to see them for physical, mental and spiritual needs. There are many remarkable occurrences that are a part of people calling and seeking their help. Many hundreds remember their healing touch especially Virginia's special touch and consoling words. Together they delivered this work at home, in-office and home visitation. She was involved with this through 2013.
These last three years Virginia was in phone conversations with people of need. She offered them distance healing in Jesus's name even as she herself was facing her own limiting physical needs. Even these last three to four months were a time of real inspiration for those who received words of wisdom and knowledge from her Lord Jesus Christ with the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit who was her constant companion.
Virginia will be greatly missed by her loving family. Her loving husband Harold and her devoted daughter Sue Green (Mike) and son Ken (Stacia). Her cherished grandchildren Crystal Elem (DuWan), Jennifer Valentine (Eric), Julianna, Austin, Vallery, Franklin and Brittney and great grandchildren Desmond and Chylie.. Her two older sisters, Sandy Humphrey and Barbara Ashworth (Blake) both of Tacoma, her younger brother Dennis LaMarche of Spokane WA
Virginia touched the lives of many friends beyond her local area; friends in Maryland to Arkansas to Hawaii. By her free expressions of truth and honesty in phone calls to messages of love and faith to all who called her friend, wife, sister and mother. She truly lived what she believed and treasured in her heart through the God who loves her now cherishes her to his heart and allowed us to share for seventy years this lovely Lady of Loving Valor!
What’s your fondest memory of Virginia ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Virginia ?
Share a story where Virginia 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Virginia you’ll never forget.
How did Virginia make you smile?