Dorothy Louise Wilcox

1925 - 2014

Dorothy Louise (Crumb) Wilcox died Feb. 5, 2014 at Belgrade, Mont.

Dorothy Louise Crumb was born on May 10, 1925 at home in Montavilla, Ore. to Virginia and Marion Crumb. Dorothy was the third child born. She had two older brothers: Dana and Ralph. Her parents moved to Walla Walla, Wash. where Dorothy attended a one-room school house with 18 children from 1st to 8th grade. She graduated from Walla Walla High School. Dorothy had many fond memories and stories of growing up with two brothers, who loved to fish, camp, and travel, and continued her love of fishing her whole life, even passing it on to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She met and married Lynn Sanders in Walla Walla, Wash. and had two children, Dianna Lynne and Richard David. Dorothy was a devoted mother and fireman's wife while living in Walla Walla. It was during this time, after a long battle with cancer, that Dorothy and Lynn lost their beloved daughter, Dianna.

They moved to Aloha, Ore. in 1962 where Lynn became a golf pro for Portland Golf Club and Dorothy became an avid golfer; another sport she loved her whole life and passed on to her great-granddaughter, Kylie Lynn.

Dorothy and Lynn moved to Salem, Ore. in 1972 and shortly after that moved to Reno, Nev. where Dorothy managed the Casino Motel. No stranger to work, she had cooked for a harvest group when she was 14 for $1 a day, worked through high school at Western Thrift Drug Store and nights at Bird's Eye in Walla Walla, Wash. In Oregon, she worked at Aloha Drugstore for 12 years, and again chose a "people person" job at Pizza Hut when she moved to Salem, Ore. Dorothy always had a smile and a love of life, both traits that made people that worked with her and her family love to be around her.

In 1970 Dorothy traveled to Europe to be at the birth of her first grandson in Nuerenburg, Germany. She spent several weeks with her family and traveling around Europe. Dorothy's brother, Dana, and his wife, Dee, traveled the world for 10 years on a large sailboat named The Whistler. Dorothy joined them at several tropical locations and spent time on their boat traveling the seas and visiting exotic locations. While Dorothy loved to travel, visit the Oregon coast, adored "her" Mt. Hood, could fish, golf, and play crib forever, her truest love was her family.

Following the death of her first love, husband, Lynn Sanders, Dorothy moved to Cornelius, Ore. where she spent endless hours being involved with the raising of her grandchildren; spending time with them at their beach house in Seaside, Ore. and becoming the "favorite fun Grandma."

In 1988, Dorothy was blessed again with love and was whisked away to Three Forks, Mont. to marry retired rancher, George Raymond Wilcox. She has lived in Three Forks with George and his family for the last 26 years and both have traveled back and forth to visit her family in Oregon.

Dorothy's love of life was seen in her many activities. She belonged to several hobby clubs over the years. She loved to crochet and knit; everyone loved by Dorothy has beautiful quilts, crocheted doilies, and knitted throws. Her personal, handmade gifts were always cherished. On the many trips she and her husband, George, took around the USA and Canada, they would stay with relatives and friends, and Dorothy always left handmade gifts as thank yous.

Dorothy loved gardening and planting, and enjoying her many beautiful flowers. Every home that Dorothy lived in had her flowers on the table and the window sill. She loved a beautiful home and decorated for every holiday.

Dorothy's love of fishing followed her all of her life. As adults, she, her brothers, and many friends fished many beautiful rivers and lakes. One of her favorite spots was the Rogue River where she fished for salmon with family and her Native American friends. George and Dorothy lived on the Madison River and any time she was hungry for fish she would grab her fishing gear and "catch" dinner.

Dorothy joined the Rebekah organization while living in Aloha, Ore.; was a member for over 50 years, and served as Nobel Grand. When she moved to Three Forks, Mont. she again sat as Nobel Grand of the Three Forks Lodge. She rarely missed a meeting and served the many offices and duties of her lodge. She was a member of the VFW and volunteered and served the Three Forks Museum with her husband, George. She was a member of the Methodist Church, having been baptized in Portland, Ore.

In late summer of 2011, Dorothy was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Those who loved her were devastated. As time limited her travel, family and friends visiting her brought her comfort. Her love of card playing (a lifelong enjoyment), kept her attention on Wednesdays with her friends in Three Forks, as long as her health would permit.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, George Wilcox; son, Richard Sanders; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Joe Kust; grandchildren, Shaun, Nathan, Allan, Skylar, Talon, and Draven, and great-grandchildren, Kelcie, Cheyenne, Garrett, Kylie, and Gaven, plus son and daughter-in-laws, Larry Wilcox and Linda, Barry Wilcox and LaVonne, Lorna and Darby Parker, Marge and Jim Rogers, numerous grandchildren on the Wilcox family. She is also survived by cousins: Gordon Darlington, Helena White, Margaret Sequan, Kim Crumb, her aunt, Delma Rogers, and many nieces and nephews from her brother's family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Dana and Ralph; husband, Lynn Sanders; beloved daughter, Dianna Lynne Sanders, and her "best friend" and sister-in-law, Dee Crumb.

If you were blessed enough to be loved by Dorothy, you knew it - she will be greatly missed by all of us who loved her back. "Grandma D, we love you most."

Memorial services will be held on Friday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church with Rev. Linda Fritz officiating. A reception will immediately follow the service at the church annex.

Memorials may be sent to the Three Forks Historical Society, the Progress Rebekah Lodge, Shriners, United Methodist Church or the charity of the donor's choice.

Another service will be held in Walla Walla, Wash. in June or July.

K&L Mortuaries & Crematory of Three Forks assisting with arrangements.