JEAN, Doris Nadine

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Doris Nadine Jean passed away Nov. 1, 2009, at Menifee Valley Hospital. She was surrounded by her daughters, granddaughters, niece, Jeri and good friend, Rusty. Doris Nadine Kendall was born in Parsons, Kan., in 1923. She was an adventurous lady who left the farm and took a bus to California (along with a girlfriend) after graduating from high school. She settled in Southern California, where she lived for many years working in the grocery business. Doris also lived in Hemet, San Diego, Las Vegas and Lake Havasu City, where she resided until 2003. She lived for several years in Mesa, before returning to California and settling in Sun City. Doris enjoyed life so much and had a wide variety of interests. She loved the outdoors and spent happy hours swimming, fishing and boating. She and her late husband, Gus, enjoyed their boat all the years they resided in Lake Havasu City. She loved having her grandchildren with her to show them how to catch a fish and clean it. This is something her daughters could not have done. Also, she was an excellent card player, many times demolishing her opponents. Doris enjoyed the casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, playing the slots and winning a few tournaments along the way. She and Gus tried and tried to win a beautiful red car at a casino in Laughlin but never did. They had lots of fun trying. Rooting for the Phoenix Suns was another fun activity for her. She loved to dance and was quite a good dancer and certainly missed doing that in her later years. Cooking and eating good food was perhaps one of the most important things she passed on to her daughters. They and their daughters (and sons) love every aspect of food. We have many happy memories of great meals with her —either cooked by her or enjoyed in restaurants. She loved cooking for family and friends. You never went away hungry after a meal at her house. Doris is survived by her daughters; Sherry Berbower, of Berkeley, Calif., and Linda Gerbasi, of Coronado, Calif. (son-in-law Vince); grandsons; Jeff Berbower (Joanne), of Antioch, Calif., and Mark Berbower (Lisa), of Stockton, Calif.; granddaughters, Christina Marine (Tony), of Coronado, Calif., Amy Berbower (Vince Young), of Richmond, Calif., and Elizabeth Gerbasi (Matt Armstrong), of Coronado, Calif. She adored her great-grandchildren, Spencer Berbower, Talia, Sophia and Nicholas Marine, Isabella and Olivia Armstrong. She will miss the birth of the newest great-grandson (Amy and Vince) due in February. She is survived as well by her beloved sister, Erma Kempf, from Eugene, Ore.; they had a wonderful last visit days before she passed away. Her husband, Gus Jean, preceded her in death. They had many happy years in Lake Havasu City before his death in 1996. Doris was a generous, loving person. She helped so many people, not the least her family. She will be missed so much by all of us. Visitation will be held at Lietz-Fraze Chapel Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary said at 7 p.m. Scripture services will also be held at Lietz-Fraze Chapel Saturday at 10 a.m. Words of wisdom and Deacon Tom Coe will express inspiration. Interment will follow at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens. Condolences and thoughts can be made to her family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.