Dorothy Alice Traeger

Dorothy Alice Traeger was born September 9, 1935, in Portland, Oregon, to Howard and Martha (Benson) Edwards. She grew up with a sister and a brother in the Silverton area, attending Central Howell Elementary and graduating from Silverton High School in 1953. Dorothy attended Emmanuel Nursing School in Portland and became a registered nurse. In 1957, Dorothy met James Raymond Traeger when they were set up on a blind date at a dance hall. They dated for a couple of years and were married on January 9, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mt. Angel. Dorothy and Jim moved to Scio in August of 1960, raising their five beautiful children together. The most important thing to Dorothy was her family, and although she worked outside the home as a nurse, her family was always taken care of. And whenever any of her kids or grandkids had any sort of event, you could count on Dorothy to be there cheering them on. Although she never missed an event, Dorothy was a very private person and much quieter than her husband, and what she enjoyed most was time spent at home and with her family. She especially loved summer camping and boating trips with her family, making cherished memories. Dorothy also had a creative side and a talent for sewing. When each of the grandchildren were born, she made them a Raggedy Ann doll, and over the years she made many beautiful quilts. Dorothy also loved flowers and gardening and was very proud of her blue hydrangeas.  As her health began to fail, Dorothy was lovingly cared for by her family, remaining in the comfort of the home she and Jim had shared, where they had lived for the last 60 years. On October 20, 2021, Dorothy passed away peacefully in Scio, Oregon, surrounded by her children. She was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Martha Edwards; her husband Jim Traeger; siblings Howard Stanley Edwards Jr. and Helen Marie Bleakney; and great-granddaughter Payslee. Dorothy is survived by her children Patrick (Megan) Traeger, Lisa (Mark) Roth, Linda (Tony) Miller, Michael (Ronda) Traeger; and J.R. (Jennifer) Traeger; 20 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. A private family mass will be held, and Dorothy will be laid to rest beside her husband Jim at the Lourdes Catholic Cemetery in Scio, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Dorothy’s name to Right to Life .