Obituary of Doris Kirkpatrick

Doris Marie Kirkpatrick, 86 Artist, teacher, mother and wife Doris Kirkpatrick died on her birthday, July 15, 2013, in Lacey, Washington after a long illness. A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Friday July 26, 2013, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia. The next day, there will be a 2:00 PM reception at Zion Lutheran Church in Camas, Washington. Doris was born July 15, 1927 in Fargo, North Dakota to Fritjiof and Emma (Oberg) Backman. She had three brothers - Raymond [deceased], Donald [deceased] (Janet), Fred (Margaret). After the death of her mother and oldest brother, the family moved to Washougal, Washington in 1936 where she attended school through high school. After one year at the University of Washington and the end of WW II, Doris married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Wayne Kirkpatrick on August 16, 1946. They were married for 41 years before his death in 1987. Doris and Wayne raised three boys - Ronald Michael [deceased, 1983] (Bonnie) Kirkpatrick of Spokane, WA; Christopher Alan (Elsa) Kirkpatrick of Los Altos, CA; and Stephen Lee (Susan) Kirkpatrick of Olympia, WA. In addition to family, Doris had life-long interests in learning and in art. Even while raising a family, Doris took classes at Hayward State and UC Berkeley. She finished up both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Art Education at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, WA. She then taught art, and became the head of the Art Department, at Wenatchee High School in Wenatchee, WA from 1963 until 1982. After moving back to Washougal in 1985, she continued her interest in art and education through volunteering as a docent for the Portland Art Museum and serving on the museum's Asian Art Council as a member, editor of the newsletter, and president. Doris' story would not be complete without relating the wide range of her interest in actually "doing" art. She was adept in oils, watercolor, pen and ink, designing and casting jewelry, weaving, working with ceramics, and even welding metal sculptures. In addition, many friends in Wenatchee and the Portland Art Museum community will remember the wonderful clothing that she designed, skillfully sewed and wore with style. In addition to the family mentioned above, Doris is survived by four grandchildren, Matthew Steven Kirkpatrick of Portland, OR; Eric Lee Kirkpatrick of Tokyo, Japan; Megan Johanna Kirkpatrick of Olympia, WA; and Alec Lee Brendan Kirkpatrick of Olympia, WA; and a great-granddaughter, Amara Rae Kirkpatrick of Portland, OR. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, or Zion Lutheran Church, Camas, or Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Olympia.