Obituary of Dorothy Louise Bell Johnson

Dorothy Louise Coffey Bell Johnson On October 6, 2018 Dorothy took her guardian angel’s hand, and with licorice and chocolates in tow, ascended to a much better place. Dorothy will have all the time she wants now to visit with awaiting family and friends and to pursue her many passions of woodworking, painting, drawing, writing and reading. She loved to dance. She was an accomplished seamstress who sewed most all the family clothing. She loved to tell and write stories. Her story went somewhat like this…Dorothy joined her parents Henry H. and lrene Coffey and big sister Florence on December 19, 1925 in Chico, CA. She later welcomed two brothers Clyde and Clifford, all deceased. During the depression, times were bad for Dorothy and her family and they moved around while making their way. She went to school in Emmett and Nampa. She met Ralph A. Bell, the boy next door, when attending Nampa High School. World War ll broke out and they were married in Modesto, CA July, 1943 before Ralph shipped out. Their first born was Terry Ann (Darrell Patterson); and after the war Imogene Marie (Rodger Carico) was born. They moved to Ontario, Oregon and the final child Michael Ralph Bell (Ann) arrived to complete the family. Dorothy was hard working both in and out of the home. She picked fruit and cooked at Lindbergh and Pioneer Schools. She was promoted to Head Cook for the Ontario School District. She and Ralph moved out to a dairy farm on Hyline Road in April, 1961, so while cooking, irrigating, haying, milking and raising children she had very little time for herself. Her home was the center of many gatherings. One Thanksgiving at her table there were as many strangers as there were family members enjoying her delicious cooking. She often fixed meals for hobos before sending them on their way. After 49 years of marriage, Ralph passed. A few years later, Dorothy married Homer A. Johnson, March, 1996 an old family friend, and they traveled and played like a couple of kids until Homer’s passing 14 years later. There is no sad ending to Dorothy’s story only fond memories of all the picnics, yard sales, swimming, yummy dinners with family and friends, funky Christmas trees (an occasional sagebrush), hunting trips, camping trips, judo tournaments and just gathering around the kitchen table for cookies and coffee. She created lifetime memories for all her grandchildren: Jenny, Vicki, Tracy, Troy, Trisha, Veda, Darin, Lydia, Gina, Denton and her 20 great grandchildren. Dorothy is a never ending story. She will be missed, but we all know she is watching from above with a smile knowing she was loved by All of us. Dorothy and her family would like to thank Pioneer Place in Vale, Oregon for the care she received while there. Graveside Services will be held Saturday, October 20, 2018 at10:00 a.m. Riverside Cemetery in Payette. Arrangements and Services by Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario.