DORCAS OLIVER

Dorcas Louise Oliver February 12, 1931 February 6, 2017 Dorcas Louise Oliver, 85, of Tacoma, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2017. Born February 12, 1931 in Miami, Florida, Dorcas was a lifelong educator. She was raised by her parents of Bahamian descent (Rosetta and Herbert Penn Sr.) in Dania, Florida, along with siblings Viola, Daniel, Richard, Cleavason, and Herbert Jr. After graduating from high school, Dorcas attended Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. On one long train ride from Miami to Tuskegee, she met her future husband of 64 years, Ernest L. Oliver Sr. At Tuskegee University she earned a B.S. degree in Physical Education, and a minor in Education. She signed up for life as an Army wife when she married Lieutenant Ernest Oliver in May, 1952. Following her tenure at Tuskegee, she hit the road with her husband's military assignments and continued earning education credits at New York City University, Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, and San Jose State. Her first teaching job was a Physical Education Teacher for grades 7 to 12 at Lake Shore High School in Belle Glade, Florida in 1955. Dorcas had three children, Debbie, Ernie Jr., and Jennifer. As a military wife, her travels found her leaving Florida and traveling 3,000 miles west to Fort Ord, California. A year later found her packing up the family again, for a 9,000 mile voyage to Warner Kaserne in Munich, Germany. There, she continued her education and attended the University of Deutschland to keep her teaching degree current. Three years later she packed for a one-year stint in Seaside, California, and taught in the Seaside School District while Major Oliver served in Vietnam. For family protection she gained proficiency with a 45, which she kept under her pillow. Loaded. Dorcas and family settled in Tacoma upon the retirement of her husband, Lt. Col. Ernest Oliver. She continued her career in teaching at the elementary level until her retirement from Franklin Elementary in Tacoma in June 2000. Prior to Franklin she taught at Stanley for 15 years (1968 1982). She was involved in many activities, including being a member of the Catholic Daughters, the school community, traveling, reading, and attending events of the grandchildren. Dorcas loved dancing, playing Bingo, listening to Paul Harvey on the radio, "Good Day," teaching, church, traveling, and being with her family. She is survived by her brother Cleavason; children Debbie, and Ernest Jr. (spouse Anne), and Jennifer; grandchildren Dawn, Renee, Nicole (spouse Staley), and Kasey (spouse Jorge); great-grandchildren Sarah, Giuliana, Maryanne, Dallas, and Penelope; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. Her beautiful smile and kind words will be missed by all who knew her. Funeral services will be held 9am Monday, February 13, at St. Charles Borromeo, 7112 South 12th, Tacoma. Reception to follow. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, February 14, at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent. Donations can be made in honor of Dorcas Oliver to the Alzheimer's association www.alz.org.