Doris Ellen Law
Mar 9, 1931 -
Apr 8, 2025
Doris Ellen Law, age 94, of Jacksonville, Ore., peacefully passed away on April 8, 2025, at Pioneer Village Senior Living. A private Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. on May 29, 2025, at Eagle Point National Cemetery, 2763 Riley Road in Eagle Point, Ore.
Doris was born on March 9, 1931, in Piedmont, Ala., to Charles Thomas and Julia Mae Doige. She was the youngest of three siblings. She was a shy child, finding it difficult to start new schools as her family made frequent moves. Growing up in the depression era, her family moved often as jobs were not easy to find and keep.
From a young age, Doris knew her future husband, Marlin, as their families were long time friends. They married on July 17, 1950, in Columbus, Miss. Spanning over 22 years, they traveled throughout the United States and beyond with the Air Force. One of their assignments included Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines where their son Windell Jr. was born. Their last and final military assignment was back to Alaska in 1964 shortly after the 9.2 Good Friday earthquake that was the largest ever recorded in North America. The next 44 years were spent raising their children, retiring from the Air Force, opening up a new business and welcoming many visitors from the Lower 48 to enjoy Alaska's bounty. In November 2008, they relocated to southern Oregon to be near their oldest son Jerry and his family. Doris was married to Marlin for 66 years before he passed in 2016.
As a full-time homemaker, Doris enjoyed watching soap operas, Hee Haw, Billy Graham, listening to gospel and country music, going to water aerobics classes at the local fitness club and playing bingo. She was a wonderful cook and could make a moose roast melt in your mouth! An occasional trip to the casino was always on her list of places to go when she traveled outside Alaska to visit family. Thanks to the encouragement of her daughter Linda, she finally learned to drive a car at age 50. Once she had her own wheels, she was on the road finding new adventures to enjoy. She loved her family and especially the grandchildren who were always greeted with "are you hungry" as they walked in the door. So many special memories from a life well-lived. Ann recalls "Mom made the best BLTs – she always put just the right amount of everything on it."
Doris is survived by six children: sons, Jerry W. (Connie) Law of Brookings, Ore., and Herbert C. of Arusha, Tanzania; daughters, Mary E. (Ted) Perez of Eagle Point, Linda K. (Ken) Reeves of Grants Pass, Ore., Patricia J. Hartman of Vine Grove, Ky., and Ann Marie (Jim) DeVito of Molalla, Ore.; 20 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Marlin Windell; son, Marlin Windell Jr.; father, Charles Thomas Doige; mother, Julia Mae Doige; sister, Lilly Mae Roberts; and brother, James Edward Doige.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Parkinson's Foundation.
Services by Memory Gardens in Medford, Ore.; 541-773-7338; www.memorygardensmortuary.com.
