Dorothy J. Kimmell's Obituary
Dorothy Jean Gross Kimmell
Dorothy was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1925 at Sellwood Hospital, delivered by Dr. Sellwood in Sellwood Oregon. She was the fourth child to Dorothy M (Morris) and Eugene A Gross. She attended grammar school in Sellwood, and graduated from Washington High School in Jan. 1943, in Portland, Oregon. She attended 1 year of college at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
On Sept.6, 1946 she married her high school sweetheart, C. George Kimmell.
Dorothy held secretarial positions most of her working life which started out of high school with The Oregonian. She worked at the Portland Steamship Co., and later at the North Fork Dam on the Clackamas River. She never had a problem finding a secretarial position with her excellent skills.
In 1962 she and her husband opened High School Pharmacy in St.Helens; at that time it was located on Hwy 30 in front of the high school. She took care of office work, clerking, and sometimes was a buyer for the store. Most of their children worked at the store at some point making it a real family affair. They sold the store in 1972.
In 1977 Dorothy became the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools of the St.Helens School District. She retired after 15 years in 1992. Her skills were greatly appreciated there.
She was divorced in 1981. She stayed on the farm with 25 acres of nature around her. She enjoyed the view of Mt. St. Helens and the fields around her house where she could see herds of deer, elk, and an occasional pheasant.
Dorothy was a hardworking, strong, creative, artistic, and empathetic woman. She was generous, kind, polite, and humble till the day she died. She loved all of her children unconditionally and enjoyed spending time with them. She especially enjoyed spending time with all of her grandchildren up on the farm.
Dorothy was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2004; symptoms were showing up for several years beforehand. In March of 2006 it became necessary to move her to a more secure environment. She lived at Oatfield Estates Residential Care Facility in Milwaukie, close to where her youngest daughter could oversee her care. In Oct 2008 she was moved to Dronca Home Care, an adult foster care home just blocks from her daughter.
Her disease slowly robbed her of whom she was, it was as if she was lost deeper and deeper inside of herself. Her body slowly deteriorated as well, until she could no longer do anything for herself. Her body was strong, she just kept living on. She once said she was from peasant stock, strong and sturdy. I guess she was right.
She died on May 23, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. She was 87 years old.
Dorothy is survived by her children; Marcia A Molter, Steven P Kimmell, Christine M Magula, Barbara J Kimmell, Daniel E Kimmell, and Kevin N Ruff. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 3, 2013 at noon at Columbia Funeral Home followed by a committal service at Yankton Hillcrest Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Columbia Funeral Home. On line condolences may be made at www.columbiafh.com.
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