Doris Winschell

9/20/1928 — 5/21/2024

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On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the world lost a bit of its sparkle when Doris Ann Winschell, 95, passed on to be with her Lord and Savior. A person whose life imbued hospitality, graciousness and love, she will be missed as mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and touchstone. She was always up for an adventure and was usually in the middle of whatever was going on, laughing and making sure everyone was comfortable and well fed. She loved to travel and did so extensively in both the U.S. and abroad.

Doris Ann Hughes was born Sept. 20, 1928 in Kila, Mont., to Edward and Harriet Wilkins Hughes. She was raised in Cutbank, Mont., and graduated from Cutbank High School in 1947. As the youngest child in a family of five children, she was the only girl, and the apple of her daddy’s eye.

After graduation, she moved to Spokane and attended Kinman Business University. While there she was swept off her feet by a handsome young U.S. Army officer named Thelon F. Winschell from Firth, Idaho. They were married Feb. 14,1953. After Thelon was discharged from the service, they moved to Moscow and he completed his degree at the University of Idaho, graduating in Electrical Engineering and then beginning his long career with the Washington Water Power Company (Avista).

While Doris Ann had a variety of jobs in her lifetime including bookkeeper, secretary, Hertz girl, bowling league treasurer, the job she loved the most and was proudest of, was that of being a mother. And, truth be told, she didn’t just mother her own three children, but everyone else’s as well. She loved kids and dogs. Doris Ann was very involved in her children’s activities serving as a band mother, Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher and neighborhood/world organizer. Parties and coffee hours were inevitably at her house. She cooked for everyone and was always emphatic that no one would leave her home hungry or thirsty.

Doris Ann loved to bowl, often being one of the top 10 bowlers in the Lewiston and Clarkston women’s bowling leagues. She was a card shark and played bridge and pinochle several times a week. After moving to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley in 1958, Doris Ann volunteered with the YWCA and served as the president of the board of directors. As an active member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and a long-time prayer group, she loved Jesus and lived her life loving others as He loved her. After retiring, Doris Ann joined PEO (BR Chapter) and enjoyed the many activities and mission of providing scholarships for young women to further their educations.

Her parents, her four brothers (Ed, Fred, Ford and George Hughes and their wives) and her husband of 46 years, Thelon Winschell, preceded Doris Ann in death. She leaves behind her three children: Margo McCroskey (Michael), Bert Winschell (Tanya) and Jill Winschell. She was blessed with four grandchildren: Taylor McCroskey, Mason McCroskey (Beverly), Charity Bauder (Cory) and Abby Tucker (Andrew). 11 beautiful great-grandchildren also graced her life.

The family would like to thank the staff of Tender Care Homes for their loving care and service to Doris Ann. It made all the difference to her and she loved her caregivers very much.

A celebration of life is planned for a weekend in the fall, Doris Ann’s favorite season of the year.

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