Doris May Lilly

Doris May Lilly, age 89, died April 2, 2007 at her home in Summerville. Doris was a long time resident of La Grande until moving to Summerville four years ago. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 6, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. At the Island City Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dedication of the grave and interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery. Viewing will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. At Daniels Chapel of the Valley and Friday from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the LDS church on McAlister Road in Island City.


Mrs. Lilly was born March 22, 1918, the daughter of Charles Oliver and Adelia E. (Rogers) Sanderson in Cambridge, Idaho. As a child her family lived in various places around the Northwest. On September 17, 1935 she married Albert W. Lilly in La Grande. When she was first married she cooked for the Roy Shaffer Dude Ranch out of Lostine and filled in as a cook at Hot Lake. In 1966 they moved to Forest Grove and returned to La Grande in 1971.


Mrs. Lilly was very involved with her church and held many positions throughout the years including Relief Society President. She was also a member of the Women's Benefit Association. She enjoyed crafting, sewing, quilting, gardening and canning. Her specialty was candy making at Christmas time. Among many activities Doris enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting and camping. At the age of 70 she began painting and several of her paintings were displayed at the Elks Hospital in Boise as well as in the church. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was a loving, kind woman with a great sense of humor. She loved playing board, card, and other games with her family and friends.


Survivors include her children, Janice and Jerry Hudson of Summerville, Sharon and Ernie LaMiller of Auburn, Wyoming and Reine' and Paul Bailey of Boise, Idaho; brother, Clinton Sanderson of Bellingham, Washington; sister, Marian Hilary of Salem; sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Steve Everitt of Nampa, Idaho; twelve grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren with another on the way; three great-great grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a son, Norman Lilly in 1947 and her husband, Albert, in 1981; her twin sister, Lois F. Hicks in 1978; and two brothers, Donald W. Sanderson in 1968 and Delbert "Bud" Sanderson in 2003.


Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mrs. Lilly to the LDS Missionary Fund in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850