Dorothy Loren (Lorrine) Handley Slattery, born April 22, 1921, died Nov. 12, 2003, after a long an courageous struggle.

Dorothy was born to Gretchen and Bulah Handley in Longmont, Colorado. She was the oldest daughter and the sixth of nine children. She had 6 brothers and 2 sisters. The family moved from Colorado to El Camino, Calif. in the early ‘30s. She graduated from Red Bluff High School in 1939 and went to work for her brother and sister-in-law Ron and Rachel Handley, in their shoe store — Handley’s Shoes. It was there she met her future husband Robert E. Slattery. Bob and Dorothy were married in 1948 and five years later they had a daughter, Debbie.

Dorothy continued to work at Handley’s Shoes and later Handley’s Dress Shop where she was the buyer/manager until the store closed in the late ‘60s. She then went to work for Red Bluff School District as the bookkeeper for the hight school until 1971. Later that year she went to work for Osar’s dress shop as the manager. Oh, how she loved the clothing business.

Dorothy and Bob moved to Truckee, Calif. in the mid-’70s where Bob was the manager of Truckee P.U.D. Dorothy spent a lot of time volunteering and she also worked part-time in the Tahoe Donner Recreation facility. In 1984, Dorothy and Bob moved to Whidbey Island to be closer to her family, especially her granddaughter Lisa. Dorothy also worked part-time at Payless Store – Video Place, when it first opened.

Dorothy loved sports of all sorts. She was an avid golfer and former member of Wilcox Oaks Golf Club in Red Bluff, Calif., and Useless Bay Golf & Country Club on Whidbey Island. Dorothy loved to watch her grand-daughter Lisa show horses and would often go to many of her horse shows when she was able. One of her favorite things to do on any given day was to watch a sporting event on TV with her son-in-law Mike.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E.; a daughter, Bobbie Phyllis; brothers: Audrey, Ronald, Leon, Max, Chester, and John Handley; and a sister, Arlene Palmere. She leaves behind her daughter Debbie and son-in-law Mike Stone of Freeland; granddaughter Lisa Michele Stone of Pullman; and a sister Shirley Carroll of Clovis, Calif. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was a very kind and loving mother, grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed by all. We love you MiMi!

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland (360) 331-5191. In lieu of flowers remembrances can be made to Careage of Whidbey, Home Health Care or a charity of your choice.