Dorothy Helen Combs Hixson

Dorothy Helen Combs Hixson, 88, of La Grande, died Oct. 1. A celebration of life will begin at
11 a.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A viewing will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Dorothy was born Oct. 19, 1923, to Nona Iva Baum Combs and Calhoun Morey Combs in

La Grande. She attended schools in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School in 1941. She then attended nurses training and graduated as a registered nurse from St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing in Baker City in 1945.

In June 1945, she traveled across the country to Newport News, Va., to marry William Hixson where he was stationed during World War II. They lived there until his discharge in 1946 and came back to Baker City where they lived for a year. The next four years, she spent living in Pondosa where Bill logged for the local mill.

In 1951, they moved back to La Grande where Dorothy worked for Dr. Branner and Dr. Ross as the office nurse until she went to work for obstetrics at Grande Ronde Hospital. In 1956, she went to work as a surgery nurse, later moving up to head of surgery and then to the head of Central Supply and the laundry until her retirement in 1994.

Those who knew her say she was a dedicated nurse, spent many hours caring for people and was a real advocate for the hospital. She worked in the auxiliary until her health prevented her from doing so any longer.

Dorothy died after a long illness under the loving care of Ruth Andrews and her staff.

She is survived by her daughter, Roberta Miller and her husband, Don; four granddaughters; seven great-grandchildren; many cousins; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years in May 2008; her parents; a sister; a half brother; and a nephew.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital or Home Health and Hospice.

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