Doris Helen Abts

Doris Helen Abts passed away May 8, 2005 at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, Calif., at age 84, due to complications of a stroke. She was born June 26, 1920 to Fred and Rose Burton in Omaha, Neb., the middle daughter of three, and proudly the only red head!

Doris obtained her nursing degree in 1941 from St. Josephis Hospital of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. During WWII, Doris was employed by Kaiser at the Richmond Shipyard #3 as one of their first Industrial Nurses. Later she served as a Red Cross nurse in Honolulu until the birth of her son Tom in 1943. After the war, the family lived in Yankton, S.D. where her daughter Suzanne was born.

The family then settled in Oroville, Calif. in 1946 where her husband established his medical practice and in 1950 her daughter Sandra was born. Doris became actively involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations while raising her three children. Doris became a member of the Butte Glenn Medical Auxiliary and became the first president of that organization from Oroville. She was a co-founder of St. Thomas Catholic School, as well as a PTA president and a Brownie and Cub Scout leader. She also loved being a summer camp nurse to the Girl Scouts and 4-H Clubs. She is a past president of Omega Nu sorority, was also a member of AAUW, and served on the Butte County Grand Jury and the Oroville Planning Commission. She enjoyed collecting antiques and playing bridge.

Doris continued her nursing career as a volunteer first with the polio epidemic, assisting with the opening of Oroville Medical Center and later starting the Future Nurses Club. She was always encouraging students to study nursing. Doris returned to work as a public health nurse in 1962, became the high school nurse for Oroville and Las Plumas High Schools in 1965, and then with the Thermalito School Districts until retiring in 1980.

Doris greatly enjoyed traveling the world, but her true passions were helping her friends, promoting nursing as a career and spending time with her grandchildren. Her loving support will be greatly missed by her family.

Her son, Thomas Abts DDS of San Diego, daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Les Palm of Montclair, VA, daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Randy Clark of Modesto, Calif., grandchildren Tori Palm Bayer (Tal), Brian Palm (Kayla), Doug Abts (Taralyn), Amy Abts Connelly (Chris), Jeff Clark, Steve Clark, Jill Clark, and great-grandchildren, Emory Bayer, Colin Bayer, Emily Abts, and Tyler Palm survive her.

Graveside services will be held May 16, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Santa Fe Ave., Hughson, CA with Father Bill McDonald officiating.

Remembrances may be made to the St. Thomas the Apostle School, 1380 Bird St., Oroville, CA 95965, or the Oroville Chapter of Omega Nu Nursing Scholarship, P.O. Box 333, Oroville, CA 95965.