Dorothy K. Roach

Dorothy Kathryn Roach, 97, passed away on November 22, 2019 at Lake Leota Senior Care in Woodinville, Washington. A family celebration of life was held in Wenatchee on November 29. Interment will be at the Wenatchee Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cove Food Bank, P.O. Box 895, Twisp, WA 98856. Dorothy was born on December 15, 1921 in Covina, California to Lynn and Zella Hall. She spent her first 11 years living with her Grandma and Grandpa Bashore on their orange grove, where she witnessed the joys and challenges of "living off the land"- as she watched her grandparents tending smudge pots on frosty nights, raising chickens and gathering eggs to sell, churning butter by hand, and preparing meals for hungry workers. Her Grandma and Grandpa were people of strong Christian faith, and included Dorothy in their Bible reading, hymn singing, and regular attendance at Church of the Brethren services. Dorothy's teen years were spent in her parents' home. They owned a piano and arranged for lessons for her. These were the Great Depression years, and an influx of families from the Dust Bowl brought guitars and a lot of cowboy songs into her life. Like a little seed, this introduction to music grew over her lifetime - bearing fruit in piano songs played in the home, organ and piano worship songs in church, and an appreciation of music in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. In the early 1940's, Dorothy graduated from high school and business college, got her first job at Montgomery Wards - and then, on a very memorable Memorial Day in 1942, met a World War II solder (Daniel G. Roach) who would soon become her husband. In her journal, she describes "a magic summer" followed by a wedding on December 12, 1942. After the war, Dorothy and Dan moved to Washington State - bringing with them a son and daughter (Dan and Ellen). The next 20 years brought three more children (John, Kathy, and Sam) and more "living off the land" - with big gardens, canned fruit, homemade bread, and hand-sewn clothes. In 1965, Dorothy and Dan bought a ranch on the banks of the Methow River, which launched almost 30 years of pure "Methow Magic." One by one, their children married and brought grandchildren to the ranch, where they made enough memories of family times together to last a lifetime. Dorothy's love for her family was only made stronger by her growing love for the Lord Jesus. Over the years she grew into a vibrant Christian woman and true saint of God. People who have known her well have described her as bright, energetic, adaptable, maybe a little intense, in love with God and in love with her family. Without exception, each one of us can say that we are who we are, in large part because of what she poured into us. Dorothy is survived by her children, Dan (Dee) Roach, Ellen (Gerald) Grant, John (Kathy) Roach, Kathy (Rodney) Peterson, and Sam (Dianna) Roach; 13 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, a sister (Evie Boothby), and a brother (Al Hall). She was preceded in death by her husband Dan in 2006. The family of Dorothy Roach wishes to thank Helen Pasca, at Lake Leota Senior Care, for her selfless care of Dorothy during her final years. We are eternally grateful!

Dorothy K. Roach

December 15, 1921 - November 22, 2019