Doris Irene Rummell

Doris passed peacefully and comfortably, surrounded by her family, on Feb. 10, 2015, in Astoria, at the age of 84. She had a full life of love with a large family near and afar, a loving church-family, many friends, and had many blessings in her life. She was born in Stacey, Mont., on Dec. 22, 1930, to Herman H. Toennis and Helen I. Postlewait Toennis, a family of eight children. She graduated in 1948 from the Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula, Mont. Doris married James R. Rummell June 25, 1949, in Missoula. They came to Astoria in 1950 and had resided in Clatsop County since. James has preceded Doris in death, Dec. 5, 1989. During her working years, besides raising her family — no small feat with a bunch of rambunctious kids — Doris worked as a nurse’s aide for St. Mary’s Hospital for 20 years. All six of her children were born at St. Mary’s Hospital. When the hospital closed and became part of Columbia Memorial Hospital in the 1970s, she then went to work for J.C. Penney as a catalog supervisor, retiring in 1989. Doris is remembered by her family and friends for her delicious meals and baked goodies. She was famous for her blackberry juice pie, homemade apple butter, and chocolate chip cookies. Doris was skilled at making many home-canned goods, and passed that skill along to all her children. With her gifted hands, she embroidered pot holders and flour sack dish towels with cute designs. She crocheted hundreds of afghans and scarves. Doris’ beautiful handiwork was given as gifts to family, friends and many times as donations for fundraisers. Doris was an avid reader, a subscriber to several magazines and book clubs. She could whip through a paperback book in a day. With her immense vocabulary, it was a great challenge and rare to beat her at a game of Scrabble. She will also be remembered for her knack in sending out birthday cards that would arrive to family members on the exact day of their birthday. She was passionate about never missing an opportunity to celebrate a significant date with a greeting card, and in many, many other special ways. Doris was a member of North Coast Family Fellowship since 1998, and belonged to a home fellowship group meeting weekly to support one another and grow spiritually. She made thousands of the Wordless Book Bracelets for Lewis & Clark Child Evangelical Foundation, a charity close to her heart. The bracelets traveled all over the world to be used as a ministry tool in telling children about the love of Jesus. As mentioned above, Doris had family afar. She had the wonderful opportunity to travel the past two years to visit with siblings in Concord, N.H., and Fort Bragg, Calif. These two trips created some of her best memories. Days filled with childhood reminiscing, eating fresh East Coast lobster, a musical and fun ride on the famous California Skunk Train — she had a few “best-day-ever” days. Survivors include Bruce and Emily Rummell, son and daughter-in-law, of Knappa; Joyce and Bryon Shepard, daughter and son-in-law, of Hammond; Brian and Celia Rummell, son and daughter-in-law, of Astoria; Janice Pember, daughter, of Astoria; Bart and Carrie Rummell, son and daughter-in-law, of Astoria; and Kelvin Rummell, son, of Seaside; Donald and Rose Toennis, brother and sister-in-law, of Fort Bragg, Calif.; Mary Ann McCarty, sister, of Hammond; and Rose Rancourt, sister, of Concord, N.H. She had 16 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Doris is predeceased by a son-in-law, Jim Pember, Nov. 26, 2012; her parents; two brothers; and two sisters. A celebration of life for Doris will be held at North Coast Family Fellowship in Seaside, Ore., on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow. Private burial will be held at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Astoria. Memorial contributions may be given to: Lewis & Clark CEF, P.O. Box 894, Astoria, OR 97103