Doris R. Drooger

Doris Rae Drooger passed peacefully from here to eternal rest on March 5th, 2021 at home and surrounded by loved ones. She was born a McElroy outside of Galena, Kansas on August 27th, 1929 and was raised there until the family moved to Troutdale, Oregon after Mom graduated from High School. Her first real job was picking and then running a strawberry picking crew on the east side of Portland which is where she met the love of her life, Bert Drooger Jr. The way I got that story was that Dad and a buddy were on a motorcycle trip to Alaska to seek their fortunes when they ran low on funds and had to stop in Portland to save up. Dad got a job driving a bus from Skid Row out to the strawberry field every day and once chased off one of his winos that was hitting on this cute little dark-haired girl out in the strawberry patch. The rest, as they say, was history. They fell in love, married and moved back to Michigan where Dad’s huge family was, then to Oregon again briefly, then here to the Valley of Plenty in early 1953. Dad became a lumber grader and Mom worked in the orchards, packing sheds, and at the Cannery. Eventually, she became an Inspector of fruit and vegetables for the State of Idaho, a job she loved and retired from.  Doris and Bert had 2 kids, Peggy Lynn(RIP) and Daniel Ray; 5 Grandchildren: Kelly, Tod, and Peter Haren and Jamie Lee and Danielle Rae Drooger; 6 Great Grandchildren: Alyssia, Heather, Jaidge, Kasey, Caitlin(8) and Aidan(6); and 4 Great Great Grandchildren: Rebel(5), Maverick(2), Camden(6), and Summer(3). Mom loved these kids and always remembered birthdays with a card and a few bucks.  She had a wonderful life with many, many friends here in the valley and around the country. From her ‘Golf Ladies’ to lifelong friends and family all over, she was always there with a ready encouragement and a story or two about her kids and adventures. She leaves a hole in our hearts and daily activities that can only be filled by love and time but she is warm and safe with God and those that went before.  Graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm Friday March 26, 2021 at the Emmett Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of the Potter Funeral Chapel Emmett.

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