Doris Gerry

7-Sep-13

Doris Gerry Obituary Doris Gerry, 84, of Spokane, WA passed from this life into eternity with Jesus Christ on Sept. 7, 2013. She was born in Lead, South Dakota to James and Ruth Matthew, who shortly thereafter moved to Burien, WA for employment. She graduated from Highline High School in 1946 and married the love of her life, Lt. John Gerry on Dec. 23, 1948 at Fort Lawton. As husband John was active duty in the Air Force, John and Doris moved from Seattle, residing in California, Florida and New Mexico. John left the Air Force in Alamogordo, New Mexico in 1954 to start a contracting business. In 1957 they returned to Washington State and settled near family in Poulsbo. Doris was a homemaker while her three children were at home and was involved in her church and many community activities. In 1970 she and her husband John opened Island International Travel, a full service travel agency on Bainbridge Island, later expanding to Bremerton and Port Orchard. Doris was a travel agent and travel school instructor for 28 years in Kitsap County prior to her retirement. Upon the death of her husband John in 1975, Doris found God?s calling on her life and began ministry with Prison Fellowship ministry as a volunteer and Chaplain which expanded to ministry to youth at Kitsap Juvenile Detention and Youth for Christ. Her passion was sharing her faith in Christ to all she encountered. In 1995 Doris left her home in Poulsbo to move to Hunters, WA to be near her daughter Cathy and her husband Ron. She was active in the Greenwood Park Grange, The Enterprise Ladies Club and a volunteer at the Hunters Food & Clothing Bank. As a result of her health needs, Doris moved to St. Joseph?s Care Center in Jan. 2013. Survivors include her daughter Cathy Cogdell, husband Ron of Hunters, WA; son Bob, wife Terry of Susanville, CA; son Steven, wife Suzi of Port Angeles; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her sister Monna of Olympia; many nieces and nephews and their children. A Memorial Service is scheduled for 2:00pm at Gateway Church in Poulsbo on Saturday Nov. 2. Memorial donations can be made in her honor to The Coffee Oasis in Poulsbo, a ministry for local homeless and at-risk youth, 780 NE Iverson, Poulsbo, WA 98370. Phone 360-598-2031.