Dolores Victoria Egli Archer

September 6, 1931 – May 12, 2024

Dolores Victoria Egli Archer was born on September 6, 1931, in Joliet, Montana, to Viola Holmquist Egli and John Egli. She and her sister, Carolyn, were raised there until they moved to Waitsburg, Washington, when Dolores was a sophomore in high school. They came so her father, John, could take over as the miller for Preston Mills located in Waitsburg. Dolores finished high school there and went on to Whitman College in Walla Walla for two years until her marriage to James Archer of Waitsburg, her high school beau. Following their marriage, James, or Jim as he was locally known, went into the service. The newlyweds lived for a time at Fort Lewis, Washington, and also in California before Jim's discharge. They returned to the Dayton–Waitsburg area, where they began farming with Jim's parents, Hep and Soleil Archer. During this time, they had three children: Krista Lynn, John William, and James Scott. In 1966, following the retirement of Hep and Soleil and their move to Walla Walla, Jim and Dolores, along with their family, moved to the home ranch on the Whetstone. Dolores was an active part of the farm. She not only cooked meals, she drove wheat truck, overhauled equipment in the winter, ran for parts, fed cows, and any other task that needed to be done.

Dolores returned to school and completed her nursing degree at Walla Walla Community College. She worked for many years as a nurse at Dayton General Hospital and the Veteran's Hospital in Walla Walla. She spent one year as a traveling nurse and worked at a hospital in Florida. She completed another AA course at WWCC and went into cosmetology. She operated her own salon in College Place called Creative Touch for a few years. She then became a licensed realtor and sold real estate for a time. Finally, she returned to her medical roots and finished her employment history as a medical transcriptionist at the Walla Walla Clinic. She worked until she was 82.

Dolores was active in Odako Club and The Order of the Eastern Star. She had a lifelong love of music and played the piano and organ all of her life. She was the organist for the Presbyterian Church in Waitsburg for many years. When she moved to Walla Walla, she became a member of Ingle Chapel at Stateline, Oregon, where she also played and sang in that congregation. She was an active member of Ingle Chapel and served on committees there, and was part of the Women's Auxiliary. She was a lifelong crafter, and her talents included crocheting, knitting, sewing, felting, and quilting. She enjoyed fishing and spent many days on the Snake River with friends, catching steelhead and sturgeon.

Dolores passed away on May 12, 2024, in College Place. She had been battling severe back pain for a number of months. An emergency abdominal surgery in April was a further setback to her health, and she could not recover.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, John and Viola Egli. She is survived by her sister Carolyn, of Anaheim, CA, Daughter Krista Lynn (Dan) McKinley of Waitsburg, Son John William Archer of College Place, WA., Son James Scott Archer (Samantha). She is survived by six grandchildren: Amanda McKinley, Marshal McKinley, Corrine McKinley Douglas, Sean Archer, Zachary Cobb, Jacob Cobb, and five great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on May 24, 2024, at 10 AM at the Waitsburg City Cemetery. A memorial service will be held the following day, May 25, at 10 AM at Ingle Chapel in Milton Freewater, Oregon. All are welcome at either or both services.