DORIS ARLENE BUTLER

1932 - 2013

A patient and loving wife for 63+ years, a tireless mother of four, a nurturing grandmother of 9 girls and 1 boy for 43 years, Doris was also an amazing great-grandmother of 4, 3 girls and 1 boy for ten years. They all called her Cookie as she was never without a sweet treat for each one. She received her Christmas wish and entered the Lord's kingdom, surrounded by family on December 21, 2013.

Born in Bellingham, Washington on September 28, 1932 to Emil and Caroline Anderson, she moved to Mt. Vernon in 1948 to reside with Don and Hazel Coss and family, Billy, Bonnie, Kenny and Patty.

In 1949 she met the love of her life, Duane Butler, at a high school football game. After a date at the post-football game dance, their relationship blossomed into an engagement on St. Patrick's Day. They were married on September 30, 1950. Daughter Vickie came along in June of 1951 with Brother Gary to follow in January of 1953. Her growing family was blessed with two more boys, Brad in May of 1955 and Barry in March of 1959. She was a full time mother until 1961 when she went to work for Twin City Foods in Stanwood. Leaving the cannery in 1971 she began her career as a pharmacy technician at Skagit Valley Hospital. Part of her job was memorizing the variety of medications. She kept a list of uppers in her left pocket and downers in her right! She retired from the hospital in 1986.

In addition to her work at the hospital, Doris stood side by side with Duane as a Camp Fire Leader while Duane was a fearless Boy Scout Leader. She assisted daughter Vickie in achieving the highest Camp Fire honor of Wohelo in 1968.

Another area of service for Doris was, of course, her church. She and her beloved friends worked as part of Lady's Aide and Lydia's Circle completing many projects from sewing quilts to gathering school supply kits for children all over the world. She made dolls for the hospital and was never without her knitting, making hats for newborns. Bake sales were one of her favorite church activities as she made a Norwegian Rye bread everybody loved. She passed this recipe to her eldest granddaughter who continues to make the bread and slathers it in butter for Duane.

Bread was not her only kitchen specialty, she loved to bake cookies, hence her grandchildren's nickname for her of "Cookie". She has taught all of her granddaughters how to make the traditional Scandinavian treats. A banner in her kitchen reads "Grandmas never run out of kisses or cookies!" a loving gift from her grandchildren. "Grandmothers give unconditional love, kindness, patience, comfort and cookies" reads another plaque also a gift from her granddaughters. Comfort foods were another strength and she has taught each of the grandchildren how to win hearts through full stomachs!

The past 27 years Doris was a full time grandmother and snowbird. She and Duane bought a 5th wheel and enjoyed 5 years of travel, spending the fall and winter months in Palm Springs, California with their oldest son, his wife and four granddaughters. Spring and summer would be spent back in Washington with the other grandchildren's high school and college graduations as well as the births of her first two great grandchildren. The second great granddaughter was one of her best birthday presents as she was born on September 28, 2004. Doris was in the delivery room for the birth and the nurse handed Doris the baby before anyone else! They enjoyed this active lifestyle until illness curtailed their travels.

Doris started every day with at least an hour of prayer and Bible reading following the Guidepost publications and Lutheran Portals of Prayer. Numerous years of Bible studies bolstered her relationship with the Father. She loved her God with all of her heart, being a faithful example for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a warrior in prayer for all those around her, living with the hope that she would someday enter her Lord's Kingdom. Her prayers were answered as she is now with Him, breathing freely and moving with ease, no doubt baking and cooking meals for all those who have gone before.

She is survived by her husband, Duane Butler; their daughter, Vickie (Brent) Campbell; Vickie's daughters, Tiffany Campbell and Janine (Kevin) Schmoll and their daughters, Mesa Anne and Jaycee J.

Doris is further survived by her son, Gary (Tracy) Butler and his 4 daughters Brittany, Brianna, Mackenzie and Riley; as well as middle son, Brad (Shawn) Butler with daughters Kristen and Megan; her youngest son, Barry (Gretchen) Butler and his children Chelsea (Eric) Carlson and Travis Butler and Barry's grandchildren Kennedy and Cade Carlson. Her extended family that survives her are Bill Coss, Kenny Coss, Bonnie (Harvey) Schuch, Patty (Mike) Walburn and Bea (Clay) Waters.

This amazing woman was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Caroline Anderson; her foster parents, Don & Hazel Coss; and her brother Woodrow Anderson.

Services for this woman of God will be held Friday, December 27, 2013 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stanwood, Washington at 1:00pm. Donations can be made in her name to the Conway Fire Department.

Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home.