Born in East Helena Montana, to John Burton DePue and Madora Florinda Burns DePue, Doris was preceded in death by her sister and best friend, Lucile Willis; her daughter, Ellen Boyer Keller and Son-in-Law Gordon Keller; her niece, Mary Fox; her son-in-law Pat Collison (Julie); and her great nephew Erik Lundquist. She is survived by her son, James Burton Boyer (Patsy), 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and wonderful nieces and nephews.
Doris grew up traveling the country during the “roaring twenties” with her father who was a traveling insurance salesman. She lived in Chicago during the days of prohibition and gangster shootouts. One of her favorite stories was how as a very young child, she and her family happened to be seated next to Buffalo Bill Cody on a train. He had long hair pinned up with bobbie pins that fascinated Doris so much, she began to pull out the bobbie pins. Her mother was horrified, but Bill was gracious and laughed it off.
Doris first came to Orcas in the early 30’s to visit her sister Lucile who had married a homesteader by the name of Culver Willis and settled in the Obstruction Pass area. Doris fell in love with the island and soon met, fell in love with, and married an island man, Harold Boyer. They had two children, Ellen and Jim. When Ellen was a teenager and Jim a young boy, Harold moved away to California. Doris and the children followed. But Doris had fallen in love with Orcas and moved back without Harold. She enjoyed the quiet island life, and had traveled so much with her parents that she wanted to stay put. She raised her children as a single mother, selling Fuller Brush products door to door, and never remarried.
Doris was a strong, intelligent woman with a good sense of humor and a lot of practical advice. She took care of her home in Olga, maintaining it on her own. Behind the house is an apple tree that’s been there for at least 60 years. She made many wonderful pies and applesauce with the apples, plus shared them with friends who made great tasting apple cider. She was an artist and enjoyed painting the beautiful scenery she had come to love on the Island. She was a spiritual being, an avid listener of Paul Harvey and talk radio. She also enjoyed reading, baking bread and garage sales.
There will be a graveside service for Doris this Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m., with a potluck reception following at the Olga Community Club. Please come out to say good bye to one of the Island’s Old Timers!
Written by her granddaughter, Julie Collison
