Doris Mae Zander

Doris Mae (Moderie) Zander passed away at the age of 94, April 21, 2018 in Missoula, MT of Natural Causes. Doris was born in Missoula, February 23, 1924 to Joseph “Pete” & Elma (Taylor) Moderie at St Patrick’s Hospital. Doris grew up in Valley Creek, MT with her parents and grandparents in the logging camps ran by her family, in 1930 her grandfather retired from the logging industry and started a cattle ranch in Valley Creek where she attended grade school in a one room school house until leaving for boarding school for high school and graduating in 1943 from Thompson Falls. Doris entered the cadet nursing program at St Patrick’s Hospital school of nursing graduating in 1946. She started her nursing career working at St Patrick’s Hospital until 1947 when she went to work at Madigan General at Fort Lewis in Tacoma WA becoming the 1st civilian nurse there. Love of Montana and home brought her back where she became a nurse at St Ignatius Hospital prior to nursing at Fort Harrison in Helena, while at Fort Harrison she suffered a back injury which ended her nursing career within the next few years. Doris married Francis “Frank” Zander on July 5th 1953, the couple resided in Missoula County MT for most the 60 years of their marriage until Frank’s passing in 2013.
Doris devoted her time and talents to family and home life in the Grant Creek area, she enjoyed her family, birds, nature and watching and playing sports.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband Francis Zander, her parents Joseph & Elma Moderie, her brother Joseph Moderie, and her sister Jean Oppegard. She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Dundas ,Patricia Moore and her honorary grandchildren Seth, Benjamin, and Hope McCracken, many nieces and nephews of multiple generations.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, May 7, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St Anthony’s Parish on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a graveside service at St. Mary’s Cemetery and reception at the St Anthony’s Parish Hall.