COLTON, Doris Owen

The Record-Courier 7 Dec 2012 Doris Owen Long Colton, 94, of Baker City died Nov. 29, 2012, at Meadowbrook Care Center of natural causes. Rosary and viewing will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6 at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Combined funeral services for Doris Colton and her brother Harry Long will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel with Father Julian Cassar officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery followed by a reception at St. Francis de Sales Parish Hall. Doris was born on Aug. 19, 1918 at the family home in Haines, Ore., to William Oscar Long and Amy Owen Long. She was the eighth of 11 children. Doris attended school at Muddy Creek, Rock Creek, Haines, North Powder, Bowen Basin, and Baker City. Her grandfather Alonzo Long donated the land for the Muddy Creek School where the bell tower stands today. Doris married Walter (Bud) Colton in Weiser, Idaho on April 7, 1937. They were married for 57 years until Bud passed away on May 27, 1994. Doris and Bud spent the first three months of their marriage at Main Eagle living in a tent and herding sheep for the Colton family. Doris worked hard as a homemaker and a mother of six children. She often cooked for huge haying, thrashing and shearing crews at least three times a day along with her other household and farming chores. Doris and Bud first bought the Boyles place west of the airport, then later bought the Evans place on Slough Road where they raised their family. They farmed and raised hay, cattle, and sheep for 28 years. Later they started Colton Grade A Raw Milk Dairy with sons Ron and Jim Colton. In 1969, they sold the ranch and bought the Stockman’s Bar and Café along with their sister and brother-in-law Louis and Lavelle Long. They owned and operated Stockman’s Bar and Café for 20 years before retiring. Doris always had a garden and could grow anything with her green thumb. She loved feeding the birds and taking care of animals. She loved to play cards, especially pinochle with the family and could “shoot the moon” almost every time. She enjoyed going for drives in the country. She also loved to dance and could play the piano by ear, she played a mean “Turkey In The Straw.” She often played piano at church services growing up. Doris also worked on the election board for 30 years. One of her most memorable vacations was a trip to Hawaii with her oldest daughter Margaret and granddaughter Tonya. Doris was a gentle person who put others’ needs before her own. She also had a lot of “spunk” with a little stubborn streak; she would say “dynamite comes in small packages you know.” As her health failed, she moved to Meadowbrook Care Center where her brother Harry also resided. Brother and sister, they were very close and looked after one another. They both decided to leave and cross the threshold of this life together on the same day only a few hours apart. Her family meant more to her than anything. She took pride in her children and all 82 of her grandchildren. She loved each and every one of them. Doris loved her Heavenly Father and had a strong faith in her belief. She always had a positive outlook on life and was rarely seen without a smile. She was a wonderful mother, friend, and example to all her family. She will be greatly missed by her family. The family would like to thank the wonderful and compassionate staff at Meadowbrook who took care of their mother. Doris is survived by her son Ron and wife Lois Colton; son Jim Colton; daughter Margaret and husband Eldon Deardorff; daughter Sandra and husband Howard Payton; daughter Wanda and husband Joe Larson; daughter Debbie and husband Dennis Hampton; 24 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; and 7 step grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband Walter, four grandchildren Alan Colton, Billy Payton, Michael Lindsay and Karrisa Hamtpon; her brothers and sisters Pearl (Dan) Thrasher, Opal (Joe) Blank, Garnet (Ester) Long, Ruth (Lee) Brown, Earnest Long, Frank Long, Glen Long, Lewis (Lavelle) Long, Daisy (Gilbert) Elliott, and Harry Long. Contributions may be made in Doris’ memory to the Billy Payton Memorial Fund through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Avenue Baker City, OR 97814.