Doris Bonner

Doris E. Patterson moved to Portland, Oregon in 1945. She married Archie Bonner (also from Paris, Texas, who was stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA). They divorced after 28 years of marriage.
She was reffered by Urban League Executive Director, E. Sheldon Hill, through their job placement program, to be the elevator operator at the historic Dekum Building in downtown Portland (a news-worthy accomplishment during those times). Since the Urban League was housed there she interacted many times with Bill Berry, the first Executive Director of the Urban League, A. Phillip Randolph & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he spoke at Benson High School and at a fundraiser banquet (Rev. Sylvester McCollins & Rev. O.B. Williams were also in attendance).

Doris loved cooking and hosting family gatherings (sometimes for as many as 30 people). Whe loved fishing, trips to the beach & the Columbia River Gorge.
In 1990, Doris joined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church (Rev. Robert C. Jointer, Pastor) where she served on Mothers Ministry and was assigned to the Health Ministry (Nurses Corp) until her health deteriorated.

Doris was preceded in death by: parents, William Henry and Lizzy Patterson of Portland, Oregon; sister Gladys Patterson of Portland, Oregon; brothers Jack Patterson of Pittsburgh, California; Edward Patterson of Lawton, Oklahoma R.L. Patterson of Los Angeles, California; Frank (Bumpy) Patterson of Sacramento, California; Jim Patterson of Portland, Oregon; sisters-in-law, Ruth Patterson of Los Angeles, California; and Retha Patterson of Pittsburgh, California; nieces Troy Johnson and Jeanie Dunn of Lawton, Oklahoma; and Jeannette Patterson of Portland, Oregon.

Doris is survived by; daughter Clareese McCuin-Shelby of Portland, Oregon; grandson Kevin (Mari) Shelby; great-grandson, Reed Shelby, all of Lake Oswego, Oregon; sister-in-law, Futher Patterson of Portland, Oregon; nephews, George Randall, Sr. and Jimmy Patterson of Portland, Oregon; great-nieces, Deloris Wallace, Sheila Randall and Alicia Randall of Portland, Oregon; Octavia Jackson of Phoenix, Arizona; great-nephews, Alvin Overton of Portland, Oregon; Michael Johnson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Frank Dunn of Fort Worth, Texas; Kenneth Dunn and Melvin Dunn of Lawton, Oklahoma; and a host of great-great nieces and nephews.