Doris Elaine (Trout) Thompson

Doris Elaine Trout-Thompson, age 95, passed away with loved ones surrounding her at the Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla, Washington on the 11th of December 2022.

She was born at the family home in Walla Walla, Washington on April 24, 1927, to Archie Robert Trout and Verona Maebelle Rotramal-Trout. She attended WA-High, High school, where she was a member of the Rifle Club.  During her high school years, she was employed at the Liberty Theatre as an usherette, working her way up to head cashier.     

During her childhood years, her favorite memories were spending her summers in Dale, Oregon on the family ranch that her father owned, along with his two older brothers.  She enjoyed riding, working cattle, and spending time with her uncle Len and her two cousins, Donna, and Phyllis.

At the age of 17, she moved to Michigan to be with family.  While in Michigan, until age 37 she had various jobs; Sanders Ice Cream Shop, Ned’s Auto Supply, Ainsworth Mechanical Design, Burrough’s Corporation and Conrad Hilton Hotel in Downtown Detroit.

On September 24, 1947, she married Bernard Lewis Fry after they met at a neighborhood baseball park.  They were blessed with one daughter, Karen Lea.   They later divorced.

She later met and married James Collin Coats while working together in 1952.  This union blessed them with a daughter, Gay Darlene.  They divorced in 1959.

In October 1963, always being homesick for Oregon, she decided to return “home” with her two daughters.  They moved onto the Thompson Ranch in Thornhollow to live near family. 

She secured employment with Pacific Basin Trading Company who founded, designed, and exported the Hodaka motorcycle worldwide.  She was responsible for all importing and distributing. 

After both daughters were grown, she met and married Vernon Clay Thompson in August of 1978. He was a fellow soldier and lifelong friend of her cousin Phyllis and husband Dick Smith.    They made their home in Sierra Vista Arizona, where she became an avid golfer.  She remained there until his sudden death in 1994.  A year later, she returned home to Oregon to live in Pendleton with her youngest daughter, later building her own home on Runnion Lane.   

Doris devoted the remainder of her life to caring for her family.  She was involved in all aspects of her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. She enjoyed attending sporting events, being the “granny chauffeur”, and was the place where all the kids felt welcome.  She also ensured that none of the family dogs went hungry, as there was always a steak on the grill for them. 

It was in 2008, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers and the start of her mental decline.  Her life as she knew it, was slowly taken from her memory by memory.  When she could no longer communicate and seemed to be light years away the two things that would always bring a smile to her face were her great grandbabies and grand puppies.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her brother Robert E. Trout of Athena, OR.  Survivors include sister, Sharon L. Lindstrom of West Bloomfield, MI.  Half-brother, Thomas Hannan of Dearborn Heights, MI.  Sister-in-Law, Wilma Trout of Athena, OR.  Daughters, Karen and husband Randy O’Brien of Joelton, TN. and Gay Davis of Adams, OR.  Grandson, Paul and wife Cindy O’Brien of Joelton, TN.  Granddaughters, Haley & husband Derek Primus of Adams, OR.  Tiffany and husband Tyrel Eckroth of Surprise, AZ.  Twain Marlene Davis of Stephenville, TX.  Step Grandsons, Tommy Johnson of California, Mitchel Johnson of Grapevine, TX. And Dylan Johnson of Memphis, TN.  Great Granddaughters, Paisley and Harper Primus of Adams, OR. and Berkeley and Stella Eckroth of Surprise, AZ.

Services will be held at Pendleton Pioneer Chapel at 11:00 am on Monday, December 19th.  Burial to follow at Athena Cemetery.