Doris Jean (Armstrong) Gilmore, 74, longtime resident of Oak Harbor, died peacefully Dec. 3, 2005 surrounded by her family and friends, at Regency on Whidbey Harbor Care, following a brief illness.

Doris was born April 5, 1931, in Cando, N.D., to Albert Hicks and Ilah (Johnson) Hicks. She was raised in Seattle in the Capital Hill area. She attended beauty school in Seattle and became a beautician. Doris married Arvin H. “Pete” Armstrong on Jan. 4, 1950. She followed Pete’s Navy career, which led them to Oak Harbor in 1949. They then moved off and on the island until 1963, when they officially made Oak Harbor their permanent home. Pete passed away on Nov. 29, 1993.

Doris married Howard C. Gilmore on August 21, 1997. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church. She was also past-president of the Retired Chief’s Wives Club. She devoted her time to her family, crafts, sewing, traveling, camping, and fishing. She will be well remembered for her commitment to her friends and family, and missed by all she touched.

Doris is survived by her husband Howard, at home in Oak Harbor; two children, Michael A. Armstrong and wife Kim of Oklahoma City, and Cynthia L. Armstrong of Anchorage; two grand-children, Jason Armstrong of Oklahoma City and Kristi Krieg of Oak Harbor; grandson-in-law Tyler Moch of Oak Harbor; also one sister Opal Bartlett, of Devil’s Lake, N.D. In addition to her husband Pete, Doris will be going home to her son Ronald D. Armstrong and granddaughter, Kia L. Krieg Moch.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pastor Juan Palm officiating, proceeded by a private family memorial graveside service at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Doris had asked that memorials be made to help in the completion of a building project started in her granddaughter’s memory at Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County, 913 E. Whidbey Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277, or to Friends of Home Health Care and Hospice, 101 N Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239. Arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.