Lorraine R. "Lorrie" Sanders

SALEM - Lorrie Sanders passed away on April 27 at the age of 85. She was born December 11, 1922 in Tacoma, Washington to John P. and Mary A. (Long) Ackerman. Lorrie graduated from Aquinas Academy, Tacoma, Washington in 1939 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Seattle College (University) in 1945. After graduation she worked in the laboratory at St. Joseph's Hospital in Victoria B.C. as the assistant to the director of the laboratory, where she had completed her college practicum. She was then hired by Pierce County Hospital, Tacoma, Washington as assistant to its laboratory director from March 1946 to July 1949. Turning down an offer of employment from the Arabian American Oil Company, Lorrie was married to Donald D. Sanders, M.D. on July 30, 1949 in Tacoma, Washington and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September of that year. Prior to her wedding she had arranged for employment at the Milwaukee County Hospital laboratory while her husband was a resident in internal medicine there. Her first son Don was born on her wedding anniversary July 30, 1952. Two weeks after his birth, she and her son flew to Long Beach, California to set up housekeeping as her husband had accepted a residency position in Cardiology at the Veterans Administration Hospital there. 1954 brought another move, this time to Salem, Oregon near her husband's home town of Dallas. Lorrie assisted in setting up Don's medical practice in Gastroenterology on Greer Street NE near Salem General Hospital. Son John arrived in September, 1955 and with the success of Don's practice, Lorrie began the transition of becoming a housewife and volunteering time to charitable causes and community service. Lorrie's affiliation with the Assistance League of Salem from 1965 to 1995 brought her many hours of joy and satisfaction helping children with the added benefit of introducing her to a lifelong hobby of valuing antiques and collectibles. She spent many hours as a volunteer, shop manager and appraiser and is one of very few members from Salem to earn the Ada Edwards Laughlin Award, a National Assistance League award. Her love of animals also channeled her energies to the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley. Lorrie served as a member of the board of directors and also board president in 1982 and 1983 along with helping staff the Thrift Store in downtown Salem. Politics and public service also did not escape Lorrie's attention. Lorrie was a member of Polka Dotters, the Republican Women's Club in Polk County and a precinct committeewoman. She also was a key person in securing the support needed to build the public swimming pool at Walker Junior High School in West Salem which was completed in 1969. Lorrie also volunteered her time at West Salem Elementary, Walker Junior High, Serra High School and McNary High School.Snow skiing became an enjoyable activity with her sister in the late 1930's. Trips to Mt. Rainier became common and later Lorrie fell in love with Timberline Lodge. She introduced her sons to the sport and many wonderful ski vacations were taken there. Later, she would go to the Lodge just to be there.Lorrie was separated from her husband who preceded her in death in 2002. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Gerrie and Ted Apa of Tacoma, Washington; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Donna Sanders, and John and Sandi Sanders; grandchildren, Tate, Keegan and Brittany, Brendan, Brady, all of Salem; niece, Mary Ann Woodruff and husband Mitch; nephew, James Apa; great-nephew and niece, Alec Woodruff and Ariel Woodruff; and great-niece, Piper Lieper and husband Vaughn. A time of visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 1 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 2 at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.