Obituary: Chrisman, Doris Frances
Age 99
CHRISMAN,
Doris Frances
(Age 99)
Doris passed away September 3, 2013 in Spokane WA.
She was born April 28, 1914 in Washburn, ND to Cyrenius Merten Packard and Marietta Danford Packard.
Her early elementary school days were in Garrison before the family moved west settling in Colfax, WA where she completed high school in 1932.
She went on to graduate from Washington State College (University) in 1936 with a major in French with the intent to teach high school.
Doris met Burdette Chrisman while at WSC.
They married in Colfax, WA, August 9, 1936; celebrating their 72nd anniversary in 2008.
Doris and Burdette moved to Dayton, WA where Burdette had his first teaching position.
While in Dayton, two children, Marilyn and Florence, were born.
The family moved in 1942 to Spokane where Burdette was hired to teach at West Valley HS and then at Rogers HS.
During these years two children, Margaret and Roger arrived to complete the family.
Doris taught preschool for several years while the children were little, while also being very active in her church, Metzger Methodist Church and later Millwood Community Presbyterian Church.
The family was able to move again to the Spokane Valley area near Millwood on a small Ă‚Ĺž acre lot.
When the youngest child was nearly through elementary school, Doris returned to school to get her teaching certificate in elementary education.
She taught kindergarten and first grade at Pasadena Elementary School in West Valley for several years.
Following her retirement she and Burdette traveled to Europe several times as they explored family roots.
They also took a number of trips to Virginia, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota and Ohio so Burdette could complete a book on genealogy for the Chrismans while also gathering data for Doris’ family history.
Doris and Burdette were “snow birds” living in Yuma, Arizona every winter for ten years.
After living in their home in Spokane Valley for 42 years, in 1996 they moved to Riverview Terrace to enjoy their retirement and have more time at their Coeur d’Alene Lake place.
This was the hub for family activities since the mid sixties when they built their “cabin”.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, her soul mate and loving husband, Burdette, her sisters, Marian Olney and Joyce Riker.
Doris is survived by children: Marilyn (Walt) Highberg, Florence (Swend) Miller, Marti (Jim) Niles, Roger (Sarah) Chrisman; grandchildren: Charles Miller, Andrew Miller, Erik Highberg, Karin Collisson, Carmen Requa, Jeff Armstrong, Carolyn Chrisman and nine great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to say a special thank you to the staff at Riverview Care Center who was like a second family to both Burdette and Doris, filling their declining years with love and friendship.
Also, a special thank you to Dr. Robin Mitchell, who took such good care of Doris for many years.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, October 17, 2013 in the Chapel at Riverview Retirement Community, 1801 E. Upriver Drive.
A reception will follow at the Terrace.
Inurnment will be at the Union Cemetery on Orchard Prairie.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Riverview Care Center recreation program to benefit other residents, 1841 E. Upriver Drive, Spokane, WA 99207.