Georgia Florine Dooley, 81

A wonderful lady and ardent community champion and volunteer, Georgia Florine Dooley, 81, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died peacefully Nov. 20, 2023, after resting at the Schneidmiller House in the care of Hospice of North Idaho.

She was born Dec. 19, 1941, in Keystone, W.V., to Glen and Billie Dooley, who endearingly called her by her middle name. Florine was known to be a child who was intelligent beyond her years and always looking after other people before herself. She attended Huntington High before studying education at Marshall College, now a university. She went on to teach English, was a trained chef, travel agent, worked for the U.S. Forest Service and became a skilled bookkeeper.

Florine and her friends were practically inseparable on “Dinner and Movie” nights, and she loved live theater, which was one of her great passions. Her love of music led her to help establish Opera Coeur d’Alene (now Inland Northwest Opera) and volunteer for the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.  

Florine was passionate about serving in the local nonprofit sector and most recently was the bookkeeper at the Human Rights Education Institute. The staff shared a love for cooking and often enjoyed homemade soups while working — a tradition that became very competitive. 

Florine’s community service included contributions of her expertise and support to many more organizations and events in Coeur d'Alene, including the Civic Engagement Alliance, Community Garden, Annual Soup Fest, Art on the Green, NAMI, North Idaho College Head Start through service on the Friends of Head Start board and Father Bill’s Kitchen, to name a few. She rarely said “no” to a request for help and once committed, Florine always followed through.

These numerous accolades earned Florine the Bill Wassmuth Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award from the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations in October 2023. 

Those who had the opportunity to work alongside her, to know and share time with her, were truly blessed. Her heart to serve and advocate for so many was a lifelong calling.

Florine was well-liked and an unapologetic liberal Democrat, devoting her time and energy to local initiatives and voter registration education. She served on the Coeur’Alene School District Text and Literature Review Committee and various petition drives including the current Open Primaries. Florine was the “go to” to find a petition or information about them.

Florine will always be remembered for her wit and tenacity, which will be greatly missed. An Irish leprechaun, she knew there was no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; yet, she kept looking — finding real gold in friendships, literature, music and food. A light has gone out with Florine Dooley’s passing. Her glow will remain in our memories.

Florine was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Billie Dooley, and younger brother Glen Patrick Dooley, and she is survived by her older sister, Francis Marie Dooley.  

A celebration of life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at the Human Rights Education Institute. Donations would be greatly appreciated. https://gofund.me/99d2c647

Her ashes will be spread in the spring at her first U.S. Forest Service lookout post in Montana.