Bertha Doran

April 20, 1916 - February 5, 2010

Bertha Crandon Doran, 93, a resident of Beaver for the past 68 years, passed away at the Ogden Manor in Ogden on Friday morning, January 29, 2010. She was born on April 20, 1916 at Gilman, Iowa the daughter of Arthur B. and Nettie (Shayer) Crandon. Bertha graduated with; a BS degree in Textile and Clothing from Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa. On April 19, 1941, she married Alfred Doran at her parents’ farm home near Gilman, Iowa. She was a homemaker, who was very active in her community. Bertha was a member of the Beaver Methodist Church, W.S.C.S., and an adult Bible study group. She taught Sunday School and Bible School. The W.S.C.S. served numerous bazaars and the first “hot lunches” at the Beaver School. More recently, she was a member of the Community United Methodist Women in Ogden. Bertha has been a Farm Bureau member for the past 68 years and a county officer for 16 years. A 57-year member of the Iowa Federation of Women’s Club, Bertha has held all local club offices and was County Chairman for two years. While a junior in high school, Bertha helped form her first 4-H Club – the Gilman Goal Chasers in Marshall County. This was the beginning of 77 years of 4-H involvement including Campus 4-H at Iowa State College, 35 years as a Club leader in Boone County and hours of volunteering at local achievement shows and the County Fair. She enjoyed fairs, major stock shows, and especially the Iowa State Fair. Bertha had a keen interest in the cattle and horse industry programs and events. Her parents; husband, Alfred in November of 1983; and a brother, Wilbur Crandon preceded her in death. Survivors include a son Gene of Beaver; a daughter Beth Doran of Sioux Center; a brother Neven Crandon and his wife Enid of Gilman, Iowa and a sister-in-law Bernice Crandon also of Gilman, Iowa. Services will be held on Friday afternoon, February 5th at 1:00 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church in Ogden, Iowa with Rev. Paul Evans officiating. Interment will be in the Beaver Cemetery north of Beaver, Iowa. Friends may call at the Stark-Welin Chapel in Boone on Wednesday evening, February 3rd from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Thursday, February 4th from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with the family present both evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to greet friends. Visitations will continue on Friday at the Community United Methodist Church in Ogden from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial may direct their gift to the family for a memorial to be determined at a later date.