Dorothy R. Rhoades

Private services were held for Dorothy, 90, at Coos Bay Chapel.

Dorothy was born in Bandon, Oregon, to Samuel Reynolds and Lucille (Barrington) Reynolds. Her early childhood was spent between Bandon and Jerome and Morenci, Arizona. Her family moved to Ophir, Oregon, when she was 10 where she attended school and graduated from Ophir High School in 1946.

After high school, she moved to California where she worked for Bell Telephone. She started as a switchboard operator advancing until she became Area Personnel Assistant specializing in helping retirees. She met her husband, Dusty Rhoades, while they were both working for the phone company. They were married in 1962. She took classes and became a Master preserver, and then treated family and friends to many delicious foods. She also enjoyed collecting antiques and found great pleasure in filling her home with her exciting finds. They loved horses and belonged to a riding club when they lived in Orangevale, California.

After retirement, they moved to Kamiah, Idaho, where they bought a home that overlooks the Clearwater River. They enjoyed their neighbors and took pleasure in the wildlife that visited their yard on a daily basis. They loved using their horses and mules at the cabin that they built on Hungry Ridge. Dorothy took pleasure in cooking on her wood fueled cook stove when family and friends came to visit the cabin.

She recently moved to Coos Bay, Oregon, to be near family.

Dorothy had a dynamic personality and was well liked by everyone she met. She was a gracious host for family and friends when they came to visit, gladly taking them on tours and feeding them delicious food. She loved decorating her house for Christmas, filling it with angels, Santas, fairies and other beautiful decorations.

She is survived by her sister, Lois Emerson; brother-in-law, Joe Bario; sisters-in-law, Marjorie “Penee” Larimer and Lydia Crane; 16 nieces and nephews; and dear friends, George and Kim Berdar.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Dusty Rhoades; sisters, Dolores Bario and Louise Williams.

Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel, 541-267-3131.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com

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