Doris May Brown Cote, 77, left for her heavenly home Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Shell Lake Hospital in Shell Lake, Wisconsin.

She was born on October 22, 1944, in Spooner, Wis., to Forrest Brown and Lucille Clayton Brown. She was one of four children born to Forrest and Lucille, and she was a twin to her sister, Donna. She married William R. Cote of Eau Claire, Wis., on May 8, 1964, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.

Doris and family moved from Spooner to Altoona, Wis., during her early childhood. She attended grade, middle, and high schools in Altoona. After starting their married life in Eau Claire, she and Bill moved to Pasadena, Texas, to be near her sister, Donna. They lived in Texas for about 20 years before returning to Wisconsin, where they lived in both Rice Lake and Spooner.

Doris’s jobs were primarily in the “service to others” area: she loved children and babysat in her home for many years. She was also active in children’s ministry at her churches. For a time she also did hospital work.

She and Bill had a small camper in the woods near Spooner. She loved interacting with the forest animals, including deer – and bears. Really! She even named them. Along the same line, she always had pet dogs and loved them and treated them as her children. She had outfits for them and dressed them for the holidays.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 2008; her parents, Forrest and Lucille; her sister, Donna; and her brothers, Dean and Dale.

She is survived by her nephew, James Buckwheat, and his family, and by her husband’s sister, Diana Christianson, and her family.

A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m., on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at Shell Lake Cemetery with Pastor Berkesch of Faith Lutheran Church, Spooner, officiating.

Last Update: May 13, 2022 1:29 pm CDT