Doris M. Staley

Doris M. Staley Doris Staley passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2008. She was born on June 25, 1923, in Yakima, Washington. She was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church, where she had worked as the church secretary, a bible teacher and was a volunteer in the children's ministry. In her younger years she lived in Buens, Washington, until high school, when her family moved to Granger, Washington. She graduated class valedictorian from Granger High School. After graduation she attended St. Luke Nursing School in Boise, Washington. On April 4, 1944, she was married to Russell Staley of Granger, Washington. While he was serving in the Army they lived in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Upon the completion of his military service they returned to Washington where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1952 she moved with Russell to Anchorage, Alaska where she raised her three daughters. While living in Anchorage she was active in community service and received Citizen of the Year in recognition of her work. She loved photography and her ability to photograph the ordinary and bring out the exordinary was recognized in the many amateur awards she received. When receiving one of her awards presenter was quoted saying "Ms Staley has a talent for capturing life in everything she does". In 1970 after raising three daughters she launched her career with Fiererman's Fund. She started as a receptionist but quickly advanced to Branch Manager of the Anchorage office. In 1979 she accepted a position in the Houston office. After a successful career first with Philco then the State of Alaska, Russell retired so he could accompany her to Houston. During this time she was active in CPCU and was a recipient of the prestigious James Johnston award. After retirerment she began to bike to raise money for charity. She participated in many different bike rides but her favorite were the Alamo Challenge a bike ride from Houston to San Antonio and the MS 150 a ride from Houston to Austin. She continued to ride until the age of 83 when Parkinsons forced her in to retirement. Doris was an Eastern Star, taught 55 Alive Defensive Driving, and taught CPCU classes. She was artist, built furniture and restored antique furniture to its original state. She was a licensed Ham Operator and made friends around the world. Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Stephen Edwards and Matel Elder Edwards; husband Russell Staley; sister Alice Flagg; brother-in-law Homer Flagg; nieces Marilyn and Ginny Flagg; nephew Robert Lane; granddaughter Amy Ballentine and son-in-law Paul Johnson. Those left behind to cherish her memory include her sister and brother-in-law Geri and Bob Lane; children Kit and Howard Hill of Port Angeles, WA, Jan Johnson of Ft. Wayne, IN, and Carol and Jerry Lozano of Austin, TX; nephews Steve Flagg and Richard Lane; grandchildren Peter and Marissa Ballentine Christopher and Michelle Johnson, Kari and Mike Woitalla and AJ Lozano and Nicole Lozano. Memorial Services celebrating Doris' life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2008, at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin. Please join us in celebrating Doris' life and sharing your thoughts and memories with our family by visiting our memorial at http://www.mem.comr