Doris J. McEuen Frensdorf, 92
Doris Josephine McEuen Frensdorf, age 92, of Coeur d’Alene, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on December 27, 2013.
Doris, born October 29, 1921, was a third generation Coeur d'Alene resident. She was the only child of Howard and Mildred McEuen, and she always wished she could have had brothers or sisters. Fortunately, she had an extended family of cousins and friends which served as great substitutes. In 1939 her father was killed in an accident at home which caused a good deal of hardship for Doris and her mother. They weathered the storm and through it all came out stronger, with a resilience and work ethic that persisted throughout her life.
Doris attended Northwestern Business College in Spokane and upon graduation took a job with Potlatch Forest in Bovill, ID. It was here she met her future husband and love of her life, Harold Frensdorf from Orofino, Idaho. They were married in 1944 in Alliance, Ohio where Harold was stationed with the Army Air Corp. When WWII ended, they settled back in Coeur d'Aene, initially residing in Mullen Park, now known as McEuen Field, named after her dear Aunt Mae.
Family events and gatherings held great importance, and all roads to the holidays went through her kitchen. Doris's caring nature and gift for entertaining always made those occasions special for everyone, and her cookie jar was never empty. She loved her community and her country, and was an avid member of Beta, PEO Chapter BF, and the United Methodist Women's Group. Few know that she was also a member of the Ground Observer Corp, tasked with watching the skies for incoming foreign aircraft after WWII.
She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Campfire Girls Leader and vigorously supported her children in all their activities. She had a green thumb and some of the finest flowers in the neighborhood. She would gratefully accept all the fish her boys would bring home, usually Perch, only to make them disappear into her robust flower beds. (We did get to eat a few of them though - the fish, not the flowers!) Oh, and did we mention she was a GREAT Mother and consummate Mariners Fan?
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, in 2009. She is survived by her children: Gary (Mary Thomas), Jill (Don Anderson), and Jeff; seven grandchildren: Kimberly, Kelly, and Brady Anderson, Shelley (McEuen), Eric, Toby and Ashley Frensdorf; and two great-grandchildren: Emma Brulotte and Clinton Anderson.
Please come join us for a memorial service celebrating Doris's life, 1 p.m., Saturday, January 18, 2014, at Community United Methodist Church, Hanley and Ramsey Road. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene, is in charge of the arrangements, and you may visit Doris’s memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com