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Johanna Ellen Dorr

July 13,1952 - May 16, 2023

Johanna Ellen Dorr, 70, adoring wife and loving mother of five children and "Grammy" to ten grandchildren, went to be with Jesus on May 16, 2023 in Albany, Ore., after a six-year courageous journey with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Johanna, name meaning "God is Gracious", was born to Charles V. Olson and Patricia A. (Palmer) Olson on July 13, 1952 in San Francisco and grew up in Las Vegas and Seattle. She was the oldest of six children. She met Mark Dorr, who she led to Jesus, at Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines, Wash., graduating in 1970. They married in 1973 while attending Westmont College in California.

They both worked for Green Giant one summer while in college. Johanna taught first grade at Dayton Elementary School in 1977. Sarah and Jacob were born in Dayton and in 1981 the family moved to Seaside, Oe. where Ben, David and Hannah were born. In 1989 the family moved to Philomath, Ore., where Mark began his teaching career.

She was a Godly mother to five wonderful children, nurturing them in the Christian faith. Being a devoted wife and mother is what she did best. She was also well known for her gentle spirit, strong faith, and angelic smile, radiating God's love to everyone who knew her. Mrs. Dorr was a popular substitute school teacher for 25 years in Philomath, Ore. She also taught Sunday School for 35 years in Baptist churches, including First Baptist Church of Dayton, where she also served as secretary. Johanna was very organized, an excellent cook, voracious reader, disciplined daily walker, and enjoyed planning family vacations. When visiting Dayton, she loved to walk the dike and attend the UB Church with Mark. She also enjoyed visiting with many relatives at our family cabin at Hompegg Falls.

She was predeceased by her father, Charles V. Olson and sister Willa Ray.

-Submitted photo

Johanna Ellen Dorr

Johanna is survived by her husband, Mark, of almost 50 years, five children, their spouses and ten grandchildren: Sarah (Chris) Brosnan, Moses, Hazel and Zeke in Vancouver, Wash; Jake (Beka) Dorr, Will and Gabrielle in Portland, Ore; Ben (Christine) Dorr in Essex Junction, Vt; David (Nikki) Dorr, Adelaide and Beckett in Aspen, Colo; and Hannah (David) Carroll, Clyde, John and Marigold in Portland, Ore; her mother Patricia Olson and four younger siblings: Chuck, John, and Doug Olson, Andrea Kulberg, and their families.

A graveside service is scheduled for 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, June 24, 2023 at the Dayton City Cemetery. Pastor Greg Brownell officiating, followed by a reception at the United Brethren Church.

Memorial contributions could be made to Dayton United Brethren Church, 1106 S. 4th St., Dayton, WA, 99328.