Dorothy E. Bucher

Dorothy was born November 4th, 1921 to Ivy (Gerrard) and John “Jack” Wilson while traveling by train en route from Wyoming to Washington. The train made a stop at the nearest town with a hospital, Fromberg, MT, so that Dorothy could be born safe and sound. The Wilson family continued on to Washington and settled in Springdale, WA where Dorothy and her older brother, Lawrence, spent their early years.

Some years later Dorothy’s mother, remarried to LeRoy “Roy” Borders, had a son named Raymond. Lawrence, Dorothy, their step-siblings and Raymond all pitched in to help run logging camps. There, taught by her mother, Dorothy learned to churn butter, make jams, breads, pies and almost everything from scratch.

During WWII, Dorothy was a drummer and piano player with an all-girl band that played in dance halls for soldiers that were home on leave. In 1946 Dorothy had her 1st child, Rick, and devoted herself to caring for him along with her husband Claire Bucher and 9 years later in 1955, daughter, Wendy. She was a great mother, homemaker, cook, volunteer, hobbyist, gardener and seamstress.

Dorothy and Claire enjoyed their cabin on Cocolalla Lake, ID where many summers and winters were spent. They were always working on the cabin, boating or snowmobiling. Dorothy loved to play all kinds of card games, reading, golfing, bowling and enjoyed entertaining friends and family.

In 1965 Dorothy became a grandmother for the first time and found a new joy being a “Gramma”. She had four granddaughters and loved them each deeply.

In the mid-1970s Dorothy became a licensed Real Estate Agent for Century 21 Real Estate in Post Falls, ID. She was very successful and proud whenever she could help young couples find the perfect home that she knew was a good fit both financially and functionally for them and their growing families.

Dorothy decided to move to Arizona in the early 1990s. There she made a life for herself surrounded by friends and a fulfilling career caring for elderly clients - usually younger than she was. At the young age of 90, Dorothy finally retired.

She was a lifelong Baseball fan and loved her LA Dodgers. Once living in Arizona, she fell in love with the Arizona Diamondbacks and would make sure that she could always get the channel they played on.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; granddaughter, Carisue and several beloved friends. She is survived by her son, Rick (Nancy) Shaw; daughter, Wendy (Tim) Trofimuk; Granddaughters, Robyn (Rob) Rodd; RaNae Elkin and Randi Baker. Great Grandchildren, Lyndsay (Marcos) Trevizo; Loryn (Seth) King; Blayne Rodd; Brody Rodd; Dominic and Hudson Elkin; Nixon and Carter Baker. Dorothy had four Great-Great Grandchildren, Aurora, Ashton and Archer King and Miles Trevizo. She is also survived by many very dear nieces, nephews and friends.

Dorothy was a positive soul and told Wendy, “Please don’t be sad, I have had a good life. O.K., you can be a LITTLE sad.”

Celebration of Dorothy’s 100 years of Life will be observed at Fairmount Memorial Park,5200 W. Wellesley Ave., Spokane, WA 99205, at 12:30pm on Monday, July 25th. Following the graveside service, we will continue the celebration at the Ruby River Hotel, 700 N. Division St., Spokane, WA 99202 starting at 2pm.