On Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, Dorothy Rae (Bafus) Ross passed into our Lord's loving arms after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Dorothy was born to Ben and Emma Bafus on Aug. 28, 1936, in Endicott, Wash. She attended school in Endicott and graduated from high school in 1954. Her father farmed in Palouse County. Dorothy and her mother enjoyed serving dinner to the crews in the harvest field.

She was an accomplished pianist and organist who played for the English and German services at the Endicott Lutheran Church through most of her high school years.

Dorothy was active in the community, serving as a Camp Fire leader with her dear friends, Lila Thorson and Jackie McNish. She belonged to the Lewiston Service League and was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in Lewiston, serving grilled cheese sandwiches to the children.

She belonged to the Clarkston High School band parent organization, making many trips with the marching band and her daughter, Betsy Sue, who played saxophone in the band. She made new friends during this time and took her first and only trip to Disneyland in 1992 with the band at age 52.

She especially loved camping with her family on the Selway River, where many memories were made over the years. Days were spent swimming and making sandcastles with the children. Evenings included sitting around the campfire with son, Craig, looking for ways to scare everyone — which he did quite successfully.

Dorothy enjoyed all types of music. She and daughter Kelly Ann, often played piano duets together. In 1968, she discovered Don Ho and a love for Hawaiian music, so she taught herself how to play the ukulele.

She and her husband, Al, volunteered for Fire Watch on Weitas Lookout each summer for eight years. This activity is not for the faint of heart. At a height of more than 90 feet, the slightest wind feels like the tower will topple, but she thoroughly enjoyed it and was very disappointed when it was closed.

Dorothy and her daughter, Betsy, shared a love of shopping. They enjoyed many birthday trips to Nordstrom's in Spokane.

During the spring and summer, you could find her outside tending to her extensive rose garden with an array of colors and varieties. Because of her love for flowers, her daughters, Betsy and Kelly Ann, planted a butterfly garden for her as a surprise for Mother's Day.

Dorothy was a true homemaker. It was her joy to bless her family with wonderful cooking. She delighted in breadmaking and creating delicious meals. Her family remembers the camping trips where she would prepare favorite foods such as German noodles and orange rolls. Each fall you could find her spending long hours canning peaches and making frozen strawberry jam to share with her family.

She loved to decorate, not only for holidays but for the seasons as well. For Christmas, the house had decorations everywhere. Angels were on the fireplace mantel above family Christmas stockings made by her mother, Emma, with a gingerbread house Dorothy made nearby.

When her grandson, Cody, was born in 1984, she became his second mom, caring for him while his mom, Kelly Ann, worked. They shared a special bond while he was growing up.

Dorothy had a love for all animals. She always had a cat or dog or both. Her most interesting family pet, though, was Rocky the squirrel. The baby squirrel had been abandoned when he was quite young. Dorothy cared for him and he became a special family pet. Rocky enjoyed sitting on the ironing board while she ironed clothes and curling up in her lap. All of Dorothy's children now have pets that have become part of their families.

She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to mother Emma, who lived in the family home from 1994 until her death in 2002.

She loved her family with all she had and she showed this not only in her words but her actions as well. She attended concerts, plays and sporting events. She displayed kindness and patience on a daily basis and made sure her family knew her love was unconditional for all of them, constant and enduring.

She was confident in God's promise of forgiveness and life everlasting.

She is survived by her husband, Albert Ross; children Kelly Ann Roberts, Darci Jo, Betsy Wright (Frank), Craig Roberts (Cindi), Kent Ross (Cindy) and Karla Anders (Paul); her grandchildren, Rachel McNair, Cody Lundberg, Nathaniel Jo, Caleb Jo, Isaac Jo, Jenny Rallens, Ben Roberts, Hannah Roberts, Kristina Roberts, Noah Wright, Lacey Miller and Ted Anders; and her great-grandchildren, Elise Lundberg, Gavin Lundberg, Mason Miller and Elijah Roberts.

The family would like to thank Living Springs and Elite Hospice for her care and safekeeping. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to the Humane Society in Clarkston or Life Choices in Lewiston.

Yet, beyond financial donations, Dorothy would have asked that you treat others the way you would like to be treated, do a loving act of kindness, make someone laugh, send a card, give a hug or say "I love you" to a special friend in her memory. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1212 19th St., Lewiston with a family graveside service held in Endicott.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." — Philippians 3:20-21.