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Note: Mom's Obituary
DICKENSON, Doris 1927-2017 Doris Malson Dickenson, long time Guerneville resident, died on January 7, 2017 at the age of 89 ½ at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. She was born in San Francisco on May 25, 1927, the daughter of Helen Cary born in Washington Territory and Alfred George Malson (Alphonse Malsam) born in Kleinliebental, Russia. She graduated from George Washington High School in San Francisco, married the love of her life, Robert Samuel (Bob) Dickenson in 1946 and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1948. After raising four children, Doris attended Sonoma State University where she received an elementary teaching credential in 1965. Her first teaching position was at one-room Laguna Joint Elementary School in Chileno Valley along the Marin/Sonoma County line. Attending Sonoma State during evenings, weekends and summers, she received an MA in education in 1970. In 1972 she started working for the Sebastopol Unified School District as a reading specialist. Before her retirement in 1987, she returned to classroom teaching, choosing grade 4 at Pine Crest School in Sebastopol. Following retirement, Doris and Bob traveled to many distant parts of the world. They particularly enjoyed their cruises together. Doris developed an interest in genealogy and was an editor of the Sonoma Searcher, journal of the Sonoma County Genealogical Society, author of articles for Heritage Review, journal of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society and recipient of their Joseph Height Memorial Literary Award. During the 1990s she even traveled twice to Kleinliebental, Russia (now Ukraine), the birth place of her father. Doris became involved with the Friends of the Guerneville Library, The Guerneville Senior Center and served for years as a dedicated volunteer and tour guide at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve (her favorite place on earth). Working with Carmen Finley, she authored several publicly distributed Armstrong family biographies and dvds. The above photo is of Doris dressed as Lizzie Armstrong Jones during one of her many presentations. Doris was preceded in death in 2001 by her husband of 54 years Bob, and by her parents. She is survived by her four children, Don Dickenson (husband Doug Lee) of San Rafael, Robin Curl (husband Mac) of Albuquerque, NM, Joyce Freitas (husband John) of Forestville, Leslie LaBry of Albuquerque NM, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren as well as her younger brother, George Malson (wife Ginny) of San Francisco. Until just days before she died Doris was able to live independently with her dog and cat in her cherished home in the Redwoods. She has been cremated, and per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered with those of her beloved husband and pets. She will be missed by many people whose life she touched. A celebration of her life/memorial will be held later this spring. For information contact DDickenson@aol.com. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to: Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, PO Box 2, Duncan Mills, CA 95430.
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