Obituary of Doris Ella Harwood

On March 16, 1926, in Eskridge, Kansas, Doris Ella Corp was born in a tent in the backyard of John and Linnie Oshel, parents of Olive Leca Oshel, who married Guy Clemmen Corp, son of Henry Stewart Corp and Margaret Ella Pence on March 13, 1924. Doris lived in Kansas thru most of the dust bowl and depression period leaving Kansas with her parents and younger siblings in August 1939, coming to Seattle where her father started working at Boeing Plant #2 making B17's, the well known WWII Flying Fortress. Doris attended Cleveland Jr. and Sr. High School above Boeing Field. In August 1943, because of the aluminum poisoning from his work at Boeing, the family moved to Yakima, WA where her father returned to an earlier experience by becoming a fireman for the Northern Pacific Railroad. There Doris became a photographer's assistant, later becoming a salesclerk and floor manager at Newberry's. Again, her father's health required a change, and in August 1943, the family came to Tacoma where Doris remained the rest of her life. She worked at Woolworth's on Pacific Ave. On October 23, 1948, she was introduced to her future husband, Robert Lester Harwood, by his mother, Ruby Connell, and married him later on May 23, 1949, in a church wedding, attended by her sisters and Bob's sister and brother-in-law. They were married five weeks short of forty-nine years, when her husband passed away on April 15, 1998 from complications following two stokes in February. They had five children from this union; Kenneth (Diane), Robert Jr. (Karen), Rodney, Gary, and Karen (Richard) Hamilton, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also leave numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and last but not least, sisters Gladys (Al) Ferella and Barbara Howe, and bother Guy (Shirley) Corp. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sisters Ruby (a toddler), Wilma Owens and Janet Crosby. Doris is descended from Colonial Stock who participated in the Colonial Frontier wars, and the Revolutionary War, and helped open the country beyond the Appalachian Mts. to settlement and on west. Her grandfather, Henry Stewart Corp was in the military, receiving an award citation for participating in the Oklahoma Land Rush and arresting several (Sooners) people who sneaked in ahead of time to stake the best claims. Afterwards, he served near Spokane and the Idaho Panhandle, being involved with his tribe in Montana. Her grandfather also enjoyed his friendship with the Cherokees in Oklahoma, naming her father after a Chief. Doris followed in her families footsteps being a marksman in rifle and pistol target practice with her Dad who was also a marksman. Doris thought the family history was partially responsible for her interest of history and genealogy. After her husband's retirement, they across the country several times, going to east coast and Canada, visiting relatives and friends, sightseeing and doing research at cemeteries and courthouses. They enjoyed seeing restored villages such as Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts and Old Williamsburg and Jamestown Colony, Virginia, museums and various forts and battlefields. They saw Indian Ruins from pit houses to cliff dwellings to pueblos. They saw the top of the world in Colorado and the depths of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, bayous in the South, marshes of the East Coast to the Bay of Fundy in Canada. They both enjoyed travel until their health deteriorated but they had many pictures and books to relive their experiences. Doris has looked forward to this last journey with peace and joy. She wishes no sorrow to her survivors. Praise be to God. Doris made the crossing to heaven on Monday, October 4, 2010 in Tacoma, Washington. Viewing/ Visitation will be Monday, October 11, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home, 5436 South Puget Sound Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409, 253-472-3353. Burial to follow at the old Tacoma Cemetery (there will be no procession to the cemetery).