Obituary: Frank Nathaniel LaRoque, 82, The Dalles

Frank Nathaniel LaRoque

Born to Stanley and Minny LaRoque on November 3, 1942, in Minnesota. Frank was raised in Elko, Nevada, with 2 brothers, Roger and Martin, and 2 sisters, Julie Ann (Olson) and Lorraine (Judah).

In 1965, Frank found the love of his life, Paulette Kay Anderson – affectionately known as PK. They shared almost 59 years of wedded bliss. They had 2 children – Bryan and Camille (Weimar). From the stories that are shared, their family life was rich with laughter, love, and many other attributes.

Frank moved his family to The Dalles in 1979, settling on Wahtonka Road. Frank has left his mark on The Dalles with his cabinet-making skills, home designs for contractors, and his passion for restoring antiques. He taught for the Oregon Woodworkers Guild and had many stories about all the fun that endeavor was for him and Paulette.

At 18, Frank joined the Air Force and became an aviation mechanic. After leaving the service, he wore many hats: welder, mechanic, interior designer, architect, draftsman, and finally, the job he loved the most – craftsman, woodworker, contractor. With that final profession, his business here in The Dalles was born – LaRoque’s Wood Shop.

Frank is preceded in death by all of his siblings and his parents. 

Frank is survived by his wife, Paulette; brother-in-law, Gill Anderson; son, Bryan (Johna); daughter, Camille (Doug); grandchildren, Stephen LaRoque (Amber), Kyle Weimar, Melissa Weimar, Kirslynn Craven, Gwendolyn Engle (Logan), Isabella LaRoque; and several great-grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life, and we hope you can join us on August 30th, 3 p.m., at Route 30 in The Dalles. Please come and share your “Frank” stories. All we ask is that there is more joy than sadness. More laughter than tears.

Obituary: Doris Lewis, 97, Hood River

The family of Doris Lewis announces her passing into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Doris passed at 8:35 pm on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at My Place to Call Home in Hood River, age 97 years, following a lengthy and difficult degenerative illness.

Doris Jane Meyers was born at home on July 19, 1928, in Hood River to Elmer Ray and Alma Minnie (Kitchel) Meyers, the youngest of their three children. Doris has made this beloved community her home for most of her life, graduating from Hood River High School in 1946. After graduation, she moved to Portland with three high school girl friends to attend Northwest Business College, then worked for Meir & Frank Department Store in their Accounting Department until 1952, at which time she returned to Hood River, where she applied for the job of receptionist for the Hood River Medical Group. It was here that Doris met the love of her life; she and Dr. Herbert D. 'Herb' Lewis were married on August 10, 1968, at Hood River Valley Christian Church. Following their honeymoon in Victoria, Canada, they made their home in Manzanita, Oregon. They returned to Hood River in 1985 following Herb's retirement, and responding to the need of Doris's recently widowed mother. Doris continued to live in the same home she shared with Herb following his passing on December 24, 1989, until March 2024, when she moved into A Place to Call Home.

Doris was a people person who made the people she loved her first priority, and she loved many friends as well as family. Those of us still living can remember the first home she and Herb shared, while waiting for their house to be built in the forested hills of Manzanita, a house high on a hill which was blessed with a bird's eye view of the ocean and perfect for whale watching. But before they moved into this lovely retreat, they lived in a small apartment on Cannon Beach in Manzanita. To this nest, they welcomed a steady stream of friends and family who sought out time with this charismatic, happy, fun-loving couple. So numerous were the guests to their home that they had to set up a calendar, and one had to book a reservation several months in advance. It was always worth the wait. Herb and Doris were married for well over a year before they had a weekend entirely to themselves. We can still remember eating our breakfasts and dinners in shifts at their small kitchen table, while a feast was presented to us, one plate at a time, of some of the best home-cooked food we've ever eaten. Herb taught Doris how to cook, yes, he did. But no matter where she lived, as daughter, as roommate, as wife, as widow, her door was always open to expected -- and sometimes unexpected -- guests.

Of her hobbies, there were few, as so much time was taken up with others. She played a little piano, was a book-loving and avid reader, and loved to bowl and play bridge back in the day when it was popular. She filled countless photo albums with the pictures taken over a 97-year lifetime of precious moments spent with family and friends, sharing holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, sightseeing and travel, lunches, and church activities. She has been a member of Hood River Valley Christian Church throughout her life, the church her parents raised her in. For many years, she volunteered as a beautician at the Hood River Care Center Beauty Shop, receiving recognition in 1995 from HR Valley Christian Church for "exemplary Christian service to the community." As a member of her church, she had, throughout the years at one time or another, sung in the choir, taught Sunday School, been a faithful attendee of the weekly Women's Bible Study, and spent much volunteer activity in the Church's Thrift Shop until too ill to carry on. One friend wrote, "She is truly a Prayer Warrior keeping track of many friends and relatives and remembering to pray for each of them and their families by name." Doris never forgot anything important when it came to the lives of those she loved. Although frugal in her spending, she was generous to others with her time and gift-giving; she never forgot a birthday, graduation, wedding, or Christmas.

In addition to her husband and parents, Doris was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Isabel Ann (Meyers) and Arthur Andrew Kirscht of Richardson, Texas; her brother and sister-in-law Marvin Blair 'Cy' and Bonita Joan (Judd) Meyers of Winlock, Washington; and step-daughter Marcia McGinnis-Kelliher of Portland, Oregon.

She is survived by her nephews and nieces Andrew (Judy) Kirscht of Roselle, Illinois; David (Virginia) Meyers of Vancouver, Washington; Karen (Michael) Murray of Fairview, Texas; Lisa (Meyers) Stalnaker of Winlock, Washington; Jason Meyers of Henderson, Nevada; Alan (Wendy) Kirscht of Sherman Texas; and Samuel (Eby) Meyers of Winlock; by great-nephews and nieces Jeremy and Matthew Kirscht; Christopher and James Kirscht; Rachel (Meyers) Blomgren and Marie Meyers; Kirsten Stalnaker; and John, Cy, and Rebecca Meyers; and many great-great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her loving step-daughter Julie (Roger) Shiels of Portland; her step-grandsons Duncan Shiels of Aloha, Oregon; Jason (Jill) Shiels, and Ethan Shiels of Portland; Daniel (Cat) McGinnis of Albany, Oregon, and Ryan McGinnis of Vermont; and step great-grandchildren Elliott McGinnis, and Jason, Olivia and Isabella Shiels.

Doris would often express how grateful and blessed she was to have the parents she did. Then she would look me in the eye and say emphatically, "And you were blessed, too, to have Elmer and Alma Meyers as your grandparents." I would reply, "I know, Doris, I know! I miss them, too." And now we must sadly bid farewell to this last living elder in our family who could link us to those who have gone before and tell us the old stories. To all who knew Doris, this sometimes stubborn, always opinionated lady, who delighted in the company of those around her, who welcomed many into her life with a big smile and open arms, she will be greatly missed, too.

A memorial service will be held at Hood River Valley Christian Church on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 11:00 am. A reception at the church will follow. Interment will be at Idlewilde Cemetery in the afternoon. All arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center in Hood River.

The family would like to thank Rebecca Lee and all the caregivers & hospice workers at My Place to Call Home, and the many relatives, friends, and neighbors who assisted in Doris' care through her final years. A special thank you to her cousins, Mimi Williford and Joni Logan, daughters of Iris (Meyers) Lingren, and Linda Meyers, daughter of Herschel Meyers, for being there when needed most. Her family is grateful that she received the best of care and love from all.