Obituary: Brown, Doris
She was born July 6, 1951 in Spokane to James and Patricia Bell who both preceded her in death, along with her step-father Francis Bippes.
She married Daniel Brown on June 29, 1968.
He survives her in death, as do their two sons Robert Brown and his wife Carri Brown of Spokane, and Ryan Brown and his longtime partner Stephen Canova of Portland, her sister Carol Gronnebek (Mike), her bother Jim Bell (Tonya), step-sister Dicki Towles, and three grandchildren Tyler, Zachery, and Hannah.
She is also survived by her mother-in-law Kathryn Brown, brothers-in-law Jim Brown (Laurie) and Tom Brown (Sandie), and nieces Traci Kiourkas, Kelli Gronnebek, Laurie Ann Brown, Nicole Brown, Kristina Schuetzle, Amanda Gavin, Jenna Anderson, Jessica Bell Griffin, Olivia Bell, Marissa Bell, Tia DuBois and nephews Jimmy Bell, Justin Bell, Jason Brown, Brian Brown, and Travis Towles.
She is also survived by several loving aunts, cousins, and great nieces and nephews.
She enjoyed a distinguished banking career that started in 1976 at Rainier Bank in the Tri Cities.
In 1979 she moved back to Spokane to help Rainier Bank establish its presence here.
In 1982 she became branch manager of the Five Mile Branch of Rainier Bank.
Eventually Rainier Bank became Seafirst Bank which became Bank of America.
She spent most of her banking career in Spokane managing that Five Mile Branch forming lifelong friendships and establishing a fiercely loyal customer base.
In 2007 she retired from Bank of America, but not from banking.
She joined Intermountain Community Bank as Vice President and manager of their Spokane Valley branch and help spearhead many of their community involvement projects.
Her sense of community did not end at work.
She was a Director at Excelsior Youth Center for 32 years and sat on the Board of Trustees of Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.
She was very passionate about the causes she supported and was extremely generous with the time she devoted to them.
Her main focus in life was her family and friends.
Spending time with them was her greatest source of joy.
She was a talented artist and her medium was creating everlasting memories.
She was a gifted scrapbooker who could take a simple picture, some paper, and stamps and turn them into something very special.
She loved creating scrapbooks for family and friends and those books quickly became treasures full of wonderful memories.
She loved entertaining and hosted several get-togethers during the year.
Her annual Halloween party was legendary and enjoyed by young and old alike.
She and her husband would dress in a different costume each year.
Her favorite time of year was Christmas and her annual Christmas party officially kicked off the Christmas season.
She loved going to Dietz Tree Farm to cut down the family Christmas tree and then enjoy hot chocolate and pumpkin donuts at the Harvest House.
During the summer she loved spending time at the family cabin at Priest Lake, the same place that her husband and she honeymooned 45+ years ago.
The family would like to take this time to thank Cancer Care Northwest,specifically her Oncologist Dr. Srivalli Gopaluni who treated her with the upmost care and respect.
Also thanks to the nurses in the Chemo Lab who always had a smile and gentle nature.
We also want to thank Horizon Hospice, especially Michelle Huskinson for providing understanding and special care to her in her last month.
They allowed her to peacefully pass away in her own house and in her own bed.
We also want to thank her friend of 34 years, Terry Skeesick for constantly being by her side for the last 7 months and helping the family prepare all the arrangements.
During her life Doris was a difference maker in people’s lives.
In keeping with that tradition, in lieu of flowers the family asks that you would make a donation in memory of her to Excelsior or Vanessa Behan, both of which have online giving on their respective websites.
A memorial service is planned for April 26, at 10 am-at Shadle Park Presbyterian Church, 5508 N Alberta Street, Spokane, WA 99205.