Dorothy Cecilia Jarvis

Obituary Dorothy Cecilia Jarvis Dorothy Cecilia Jarvis (nee: Strom) was born in Troy, ID on December 29, 1922, the seventh of eight children born to Albert and Cecilia Strom. Dorothy lived her life as she was raised honest, giving, accepting and with a strong sense of right, or at least her "right," and wrong. In our family, we say there is a right way, a wrong way and her way. Mom met and later married her husband, Jim Jarvis, of Republic, WA, when he came to visit his sister, Hazel Parr, in Troy, ID. Their courtship was interrupted by WWII. Jim went into the Army Air Corp and Dorothy went into the Marine Corp. Yep, our family ended up with two sergeants! As kids, we were surrounded by "benevolent dictators". Our parents were happily married until our father's untimely death in a home fire. Mom remained single the rest of her life, but did not spend it idly sitting at home with a pension. Jim made the Air Force a career. Dorothy began her working career (after we were in school) at the Fairchild AFB Credit Union from 1957-1960. Jim was reassigned to Okinawa from 1960-1963, where Dorothy worked as the manager of the Naha AFB Credit Union. Transferred once again, she worked for the Department of the Navy in Charleston, SC. While on assignment in California and Alaska, she worked in financial areas as a civilian employee of the armed forces and did a short stint at Kinchloe AFB, MI as the coordinator for the Bachelor Officer's Quarters. When Dad retired in 1973, they moved back to Anchorage, a favorite post of theirs, where she went back to work in finance. After our father's death, she relocated to the Tacoma area where she quickly found a job in Auburn at GSA until her retirement. She volunteered for over 20 years (until she was 83) on Wednesdays for the American Red Cross at Madigan Hospital on Fort Lewis. There she enjoyed serving the soldiers and their families in their time of need. She was active in her church, Christ Lutheran in Lakewood, and on the board of her condo association including a term as president. She was a strong believer in charting your own course and accepting responsibility. I'm sure, if you knew her, you'd have a story about her legendary story telling or her Don Quixote-esque battles. If she felt firm in her convictions, she would write letters to her representatives, tell anyone who'd listen and generally campaign tirelessly for her issues. Keeping her mind active was always important to her so she would work the daily crossword puzzle and play bridge at every opportunity. She had several groups for bridge in which she met many of her close, life-long-friends. Keeping track of her bridge schedule would read like a train schedule. There was the Monday, Wednesday & Saturday night group, the Tuesday-days every-other-week group, the once-a-month Friday evening-in-Gig-Harbor group and the once-a-month Thursday morning group at Oakbrook. She also sat in for absent players, from time to time, in other groups and thoroughly enjoyed a good game of cards. She taught her grandchildren to play Spite and Malice at a young age and until just before her death, she would play with them when they came to visit. She always enjoyed trying to take her son-in-law, Jim Whitacre to school in cribbage. It was not always a successful trip to school. Sometimes she'd be the one in detention. Her grandson, Max, lives in Anchorage now, but when he lived in the area he could be found helping with projects around her home. He helped her clean her garage and to renovate her kitchen. She was very special to all her grandchildren. Included in her activities at Christ Lutheran Church was her regular participation in the quilting group. She enjoyed several of the quilt-making jobs, the last of which was sewing up the outer edges. She loved the traditional worship service held on Thursday. So, it is easy to see why her memorial service will be on August 23, 2007 during the regular service with lunch to follow. We are so proud of our mother's life and history. Her caring and concern for others was tireless; helping others came naturally to her and she raised us to do the same. This world is a better place because she was in it. She left her mark in so many small ways, from donating to FISH to her newer cause, helping children in third world countries who have cleft pallets get the surgery needed to live a more normal life, through the Smile Train. Franciscan Hospice was instrumental in helping us give Mom the quality of home care she deserved. The family wishes to thank: Susan, Dorothy, Jonathan, Tita, Ann, Celeste and PJ for their affection to Mom and their professional services. Dorothy is survived by: daughters Kathryn Cecelia Whitacre (Jarvis), husband Jim, and Pamela Joan Jarvis; granddaughters, Karyn and Elizabeth Whitacre; grandson, Max Mc Guire. Mom also has two surviving sisters Doris Bohman of Tacoma and Beverly House (husband Bill) of Santa Rosa, CA and one sister-in-law, Liz Strom of Troy, ID. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Jim, infant son, Timothy and infant grandson, Timothy; and siblings Arnold, Norma, Eldon and Myrt. She has many nieces and nephews: Douglas Wright (sister Norma's son) and his partner, Cheryle of Covington, WA; Lenore Hanson (sister Myrtle's daughter) of Renton; Sue Montague (sister-in-law, Hazel Parr's daughter) recently of AZ, Trude Nozick (sister Doris' daughter) of Boston, recently residing with her mother here. All were frequently in contact with their aunt and held a special place in her heart. Dorothy's memorial service will be at Christ Lutheran Church in Lakewood, WA, Thursday August 23, 2007 at the 12:00 Noon Service, with reception to follow. Interment will be in Dorothy's hometown, Troy, Idaho, on September 5, 2007 at the Burnt Ridge Cemetery. A reception will follow the grave-side service. The family suggests memorials to Franciscan Hospice or a charity of your choice.