Doris Irene May, 77

Doris Irene May, age 77, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away June 20, 2011, at Pinewood Care Center.

She was born April 28, 1934, in Belfield, North Dakota, to Joe and Dorothy (Determann) Olson. She moved to Coeur d'Alene with her family at the age of 2 and graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1952. Doris married Gene Dowers in June of 1952 and he died in August of 1952. She and Bob May were married in 1953 and divorced in 1980. She married Clayton Ayars in 1986 and they divorced in 1987.

Doris served as the church organist at First Baptist Church for 26 years. She also served one year as church organist at St. Lukes Episcopal Church and 16 years at First Presbyterian Church. She started playing the organ for local funeral homes at the age of 18 and gave private piano lessons to as many as 46 students a week for 38 years. In addition to her music career she worked as a secretary for North Idaho College from 1979 until retiring in 1999.

Doris was a member and past officer of Professional Secretaries International and attended Word of Life Church in Greenacres, Wash., and Coeur d'Alene Assembly of God.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Gardiner, and her husband, Jon, of Coeur d'Alene; a son, David May and his wife, Dana, of Spokane Valley; a son, Chris May and his wife, Elizabeth, of Coeur d'Alene; one grandson, five granddaughters and four great-grandchildren; a sister, Anida LePard of Spokane; an uncle, Omer Olson of Spokane; and two nieces and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Dowers, her parents, and several uncles and aunts.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m., on Saturday, July 23, 2011, at the Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel.

Burial will be at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens. Please visit Doris's memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com