May 24, 1934 – June 27, 2025
“A luminous light remains where a beautiful soul has passed”
We cherish the memory of Doris, our Mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, aunt, cousin, dear friend and teacher.
Doris was born in Tacoma, Washington where she was the oldest child in the family. They lived on the train route and when Doris was born her dad put a sign in the window that the baby had arrived – It’s a Girl! The train conductor tooted the horn joyfully to the news. She was definitely her Daddy’s Girl. Doris loved being a big sister to the other 4 siblings, often making gifts to share at Christmas and wrapping them in the funny papers as that was all they had. She attended the Baptist church near their home and even baptized her new baby sister Donna, 10 years her junior, to make sure she went to heaven. She attended Jason Lee Junior High and loved her classes and teachers at Stadium High School with its castle like setting.
Doris married Harve Toppen February 9, 1952 and started their family in the little remodeled shed in per parents’ backyard. When the studio got a little too small, She and Harve moved to the Snoqualmie valley in 1956. Doris and Harve raised four children – Bob Toppen (Char), Debbie Marshall (John), Terri Toppen (Scott Williams) & Chris Toppen – and enjoyed the blessing of eight grandchildren– Brad Toppen (Jamie), Bridget Sutherland (Mike), Amy Corder (Jim), Tyson Marshall (Nuchy), Shannon Toppen, Dorrie Toppen, Hannah Williams Amavizca (Gabe) and Kyle Williams. Doris also leaves nine great grandchildren, Kyann, Austin, Gracie, Aly, Logan, Riley, Addison, Kaiden, Aiden, Ezra and Eve. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and Everett Hays and two sisters, Donna Wadlow & JoAnn Carrillo, brother Jim Hays, nephew Steve Carrillo and Niece Jori and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Survivors include her immediate family, her brother Steve Hays, cousins Mary Grina Loveland, Ralph Loveland (Lanie), Gordeen Dugan (Eddie), Louis Harris (Kerry), Bob Williamson, Gail Fettig, Tammy Payton. Doris kept in constant communication with her siblings’ children – keeping the family connected. They included nieces and nephews – Jim Yates (Susan) Matt & Carissa, Fred Wadlow (Sandy) Anishka and Brendan, Michelle Wadlow Ayres and Madi, Charles Wadlow, Sophia and Evelyn, Lisa Hays Matthews (Rob) Jared (Sydney) and Kayla, Lori Hays Stone (Rob) Eryn and Cristian, Jeff Carrillo and Amiya. She loved each and every one with all her heart. Her “family” was her everything. Harve and Doris divorced in 1998. Doris married Ron Northstrom and divorced in 2002.
Doris loved to exercise most every day of her life and twice on Sunday! She enjoyed Dance club in the early years and loved playing killer Uno with a vengeance, Hallmark movies and playing croquet in an attempt to beat everyone. She loved to ride her bike all around town. She enjoyed attending the Snoqualmie United Methodist Church where she made lifelong friends. She also directed many Christmas programs. She eventually attended Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church in Fall City and loved greeting all the wonderful people she knew. She was Dr. O’Donnell’s Dental Assistant and brought her own special care to all the patients. She was an Aerobics instructor with the California Aerobic Dance Company at the North Bend Firehall. She was a passionate writer, author, contributor and teacher, who was published in many books, magazines and was a weekly contributing editor to the Tacoma News Tribune. She was also a creative writing teacher with Bellevue College and Providence Point for over 27 years and her students were her life. Her students kept her looking at the world through her rose-colored glasses and she thoroughly loved each one and all the life stories they brought to class. She competed in the Mrs. Washington State pageant in 1999. She organized many Cystic Fibrosis Bike-a-thons and participated in the Sumner Relay for Life cancer walk in 2011. She competed in many races and at 84 years of age she set the record for the Women’s 5K at The Washington Senior Games. In 2016 she ran the Seattle Rock and Roll half marathon (13.1) for SVA Church and World Vision, where she raised over $3,000.00 for clean water for Africa and took 2nd place in her division. Throughout her life Doris lived in Tacoma, Snoqualmie, North Bend and Bonney Lake all of which she made a haven of love for all those around her. She had such a wonderful gift of making people feel loved and cared for – like they were her favorite – even if it was the first time meeting her.
In the fall of 2024, after multiple hospital stays, struggling with COPD and Asthma she decided to go on Hospice care. She rallied several times as she just didn’t want to go yet. Her wish was to stay home and daughter Debbie was able to provide the extra care she needed. She peacefully passed on June 27, 2025.
“Love you a million”- she would always say. We don’t just mourn the person gone; perhaps we mourn the person we got to be while they were present in our lives.
All that we have ever loved is ours forever.
