Doris M Geist

  Doris Mary Geist   Doris Mary Geist, 87, peacefully passed away on August 4, 2015 in Spokane, WA while surrounded by her family. Doris was born on March 25, 1928 in St. Louis, MO to Martha Claire and Alfonse Frank Dickneite. She enjoyed a lively childhood with her four siblings that included many great adventures and playful hijinks. On February 4, 1950, Doris married Cornelius John Forness. Together, they traveled the country as Cornelius served in the United States Air Force and Doris made a home for their eight children. In 1963, after a long drive from Alaska, the family made its final stop in Spokane, WA. Cornelius and Doris divorced in 1973 and she began raising the children on her own. To support her family, Doris took on many jobs, including bartending at the Moezy Inn Tavern and working at Dairy Queen where she earned the nickname “Bun Lady.” In 1978, she had a brief marriage to William Geist that ended in divorce. Doris showed no signs of slowing down after her retirement and even took on another job boxing pies at Cyrus O’Leary’s. She basked in being a grandma/great grandma and showered her grandchildren with an infinite amount of love and homemade cookies. Doris also volunteered her time to help many causes. Her baking for numerous fundraising events earned her the nickname “The Cookie Lady.” Her specialties were fruit drop cookies and snickerdoodles. In her free time, she enjoyed painting ceramics, word searches, reading Danielle Steel and Mary Higgins Clark, watching action movies, gardening, making candy, and telling stories. Doris is preceded in death by her siblings Eileen Rice and Mart Disko, daughters Sharon Allen and Kathy Andrews, and her companion of 19 years, her cat Snoopy. She is survived by her sister Norm Shelby and brother Alphonse Dickneite, and her children Connie Kent (John), Debbie Childs (Greg Oster), Mickey Hall (David), John Forness (Liz), Matt Forness (Lori), and Chris Forness, as well as 24 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Doris did everything for everyone. She was the best of us. A Celebration of Life will take place on August 22, 2015 at 11:00am at Riplinger Funeral Home 4305 N Division in Spokane. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cancer Care Northwest or to Avalon Care Center.