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Doris May (Aiken) Echols

Posted 2008-05-17 by Judy Wight Branson
The Prescott Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Friday, May 16, 2008

Doris Aiken Echols passed away May 11, 2008, at Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, Ariz. She was born May 25, 1921, in Prescott, the daughter of Claude and Hazel (Swiger) Aiken. Doris was 86 years old.

Doris grew up on the C. W. Aiken Ranch, one of the largest ranches in northern Arizona – 10 sections. The ranch was located on Road 5 in Chino Valley. She met the love of her life, Walt Echols, when they attended Prescott High School. They were married in July of 1941. They raised five children on their 20 acres on the old homestead in a home that they built. In the late 1940s, Chino Valley Community Church had the first Corn Dinner, which was a fundraiser to buy an organ for the church. The men shucked the corn and each church lady brought a pie. Doris continued to help with the Corn Dinner until she and Walter moved their family to the Phoenix area in 1957. Walt passed away in 1993 and her son, Dean, moved Doris back up to Chino Valley to live with him in 1998.

She attended Chino Valley United Methodist Church, became proficient on the Internet and loved watching Dr. Phil twice a day. The most enjoyment came from being with Dean, as he inherited his grandfather’s love of cars and loved restoring vintage cars and taking his mother to the car shows throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Doris is survived by her children, Dean of Chino Valley, Marilynn (Ron) Krein of Atwater, Calif., Scott of Phoenix, Ellen (Walt) Jackson of Peoria and Dennis of Phoenix; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and her sister, Betty Wells of Chino Valley.

Visitation will be noon to 2 p.m. Monday, May 19, 2008, at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, corner of Cortez and Carleton.

A celebration of Doris’ life will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials in her name to the Chino Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 4154, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.

You are invited to log onto www.ruffnerwakelin.com to view a tribute to Doris’, sign her guestbook and share a memory with the family.

Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Information provided by survivors.









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