Helen Margaret Dollis, 100, of Baker City, died May 19, 2007, at her home.
At her request, there will be no funeral. After cremation, her ashes will be interred at Hollywood Forever Memorial Cemetery next to her beloved husband, Arthur.
Helen was born on Feb. 5, 1907, on a farm at Albia, Monroe County, Iowa. She was the third child of Robert Edward and Frances Elmira Adams Canning. She was raised at Albia and upon graduating from school, she worked for an attorney as a legal secretary.
During this time, she met a new accountant in town, Earl Scott Alexander. They were married on May 18, 1929. They had one daughter, Lorna Lee Alexander.
Due to her husband’s position and advancement with Bank of America, they moved several times ending up in Los Angeles. One of her many talents was being able to make a house a home in one day. Helen and Earl’s marriage ended after 25 years.
Helen met Arthur Dollis and they were married in 1963. Art and Helen both loved to dance.
They resided at Norwalk and Anaheim, Calif., where they shared several wonderful years together before his death.
Helen was employed by Bullock’s Department Store in California and was honored to have been asked to organize the accounting department of the Santa Anna store when it first opened. When Helen retired, she was in charge of the accounting department of the company’s store at Westwood Village.
After retiring, she moved to Auburn, Calif., to be near her only child, Lorna Lee, and her husband and family. When her daughter and son-in-law moved to Richland in 1992, she moved with them. Three years later, she moved to Baker City. Helen recently celebrated her 100th birthday at her home surrounded by her loving family and friends.
Helen was active in the United Presbyterian Church in Iowa and also in California. She served as president of the Women’s Missionary Service for many years. After moving to Baker City, she regularly attended the Church of the Nazarene with her daughter and son-in-law until her health started to decline.
Helen loved to be with her family and grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting afghans and sewing and she loved to read. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone. She has been best described by her family and friends as “a true lady.”
Survivors include her beloved son-in-law, Edward Dayen; three grandsons, Grant Williams, and his wife, Sherrii, of Rio Rancho, N.M., Craig Williams of Auburn, Calif., and Ron Dayen of Richland; five great-grandchildren, Christopher Williams, Kelcey Williams, Mallory Williams, Sarah Dayen and Cameron Dayen; and one great-great-grandchild, Caden Civeletti.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Frances Canning; her only child, Lorna Lee Dayen; her two husbands, Earl Alexander and Arthur Dollis; her brother, Clarence Canning; and her sister, Genevieve Smith.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideon International Memorial Bible Plan through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 22, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor