DOROTHY JANE (GILLESPIE) SKINNER, 93, of Spokane died October 22, 2017 at Spokane Hospice House South immersed in the love of her family. Born January 31, 1924 along with her twin brother H. LeRoy to Ralph and Edna Gillespie. They lived on a farm outside of Pullman. She attended Union Center School through the 8th grade. She and her family moved into Pullman so the children could have more opportunities. The family then consisted of her twin sisters, Jean and June, and the youngest sister Betty. Dorothy graduated from Pullman High School in 1942 and enrolled in WSC that fall where she excelled in business classes and also in love. While in the midst of a snowball fight between several fraternities Don Skinner fell and hit his head on the ice and Dorothy, ever the compassionate one, doctored up his wounds. They started dating and before Don went overseas to serve in WWII they were married. It was a great relief that Don survived, but he came home wounded and was sent to Walla Walla to heal. Dorothy moved to Walla Walla and they lived there for 19 months. After Don’s discharge, they moved back to Pullman where Don attended WSC on the GI Bill. The family grew in 1948 when son Dave was born, followed by daughter Cathy in 1950. In 1951 Don was transferred to Moses Lake, WA where son Greg was born in 1952. With the children all enrolled in school, Dorothy began her career at Seattle First National Bank as the switchboard operator and ended 27 years later as the Internal Branch Auditor. She was active in her community and was on the steering committee that founded the Moses Lake United Methodist Church where she was still a member at her death. She considered herself blessed by the love of her family who blessed her with grandchildren Steve, Eric, Josh, Lisa, Sam, and Maggie. She lived long enough to know and love her great grandchildren Nathan, Olivia and Owen. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and siblings LeRoy, Jean and June. Her beloved Don died in 2012 after 68 years of marriage, her son Dave in 2016 and daughter Cathy in 1998. She is survived by all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her son Greg (Monica) of Spokane and her little sister Betty (Jim) Hatley, her niece Lael (Randy)Brickey, her nephews Bob (Lola) Gillespie and Melvin Gillespie.. A memorial service will be held at Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 N Wall in Spokane at 1 p.m. on Saturday,  November 25th . Burial will be in Pullman in the spring. Memorial gifts may be made to Spokane Shriners Hospital or Country Homes Christian Church.

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