Iris Dorothy Hoffman
Iris Dorothy Hoffman quietly left this world on February 11, 2011 at the age of 91. She was born in Potlatch, Idaho on March 19, 1919. She was one of seven children to Myron and Grace Darrow.
As a young girl growing up during the depression, Iris learned to appreciate whatever life had to offer and to always put others before herself. At fourteen, she quit school and took a job as a live-in domestic worker to help her mother support the younger children. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Iris was living in Honolulu, Hawaii with her two-year old son and her younger sister, Wanita. Though the sisters were attracted to the beauty of the islands and the native people, strong family ties brought them back home to Idaho and Washington.
Iris and her husband, Rudy, chose Alaska as the place to raise their two children, Ronald and Linda. Alaska was their home until 1967 when they moved to Moses Lake where Rudy and Ronald owned and operated Danny's Tavern for 24 years.
Iris suffered a stroke in 2000 and never completely recovered. The last seven and a half years, she received the care this gentle, kind woman so deserved with Ed and Penny Weber at Lakeside Care. A special thank you to the Weber's and Dana Suarez for recognizing what a truly special person Iris was.
Iris was preceded in death by all her siblings, her husband, Rudy Hoffman and in August 2010, her beloved son, Ronald Hoffman.
Survived by daughter, Linda Finlay, grandson, Shawn Finlay, granddaughter, Rudeen Larsen, great granddaughter, Racyna Larsen, great-great grandson, Ryker Cutts, and grandson, Danny Hoffman, all of Moses Lake. Niece, JoAnn Carl, niece and nephew, Percette and Joseph Carl, great nieces, Carly and Alex, and nephew, Gene Darrow. Also, her sister Wanita Moffets' children, Jack, Cathy, Celia, Cindy, and their children and grandchildren. She also left behind dearest friend, Enid Clay.
Close family friend Judie Champie wrote: "I'd like people to remember that Iris was a gentle but spirited woman who took what life handed her and made the best of it. She didn't judge people and though she didn't always agree with what others said or did, she forgave. Iris' heart was huge and she had the sweetest smile. Her door was always open for me. She had the cutest laugh."
Iris's favorite color was blue and her favorite flower was sweet peas. Among her favorite entertainers were Mario Lanza, Liberace, Elvis, Neil Diamond, and Engelbert Humperdinck.
With little formal education, Iris was a remarkable teacher of the values we should all have. Iris taught by example to love and respect everyone, without prejudice - to do no harm to people or animals. To never miss the opportunity to help someone. Thank you for everything you so unselfishly gave not only to the family and friends, but to everyone you ever met in life. You left us all with so many beautiful memories filled with love and laughter. Iris asked for so little in life and gave so much. Everyone and anyone that ever knew her will long remember her. To simply always do what is right was her legacy. A truly good person has left this world and she is in God's hands now.
A donation to Daze of Camelot because of Iris' love of animals would be her wish. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel. Please sign the book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserchapel.com.