Doris Astley

Doris LaCasse Astley passed away on January 6, 2024, at the Walla Walla Veterans Home at the age of 100. She was born in Bellingham Washington, to Henry and Clarinda LaCasse, on December 1, 1923. Doris was the oldest child of four children, including brothers Robert and Wayne and a sister, JoAnn. Doris’s parents came from large families, so she and her cousins were close, attending the same schools and growing up together.

In 1944, while living in Bellingham, she met Fred Astley, who was stationed with the Naval Air Corp on Whidbey Island. They married in 1946 and moved to Knoxville Tennessee, where he attended law school. After law school and the birth of their first child, Kathy, they made many more moves due to his profession. Along the way, Betsy, Robert, and David were born, adding to an active family of young children.

She set up households many times, moving to Bismarck North Dakota, Billings Montana, and Denver Colorado, between 1948 and 1960. Doris became involved with her children’s schools and extracurricular activities. At various times, she was a Brownie, Girl Scout, and Campfire leader, taught Catechism, and cheered her sons on at little league baseball games and football games.

Doris’s husband, Fred, passed away at the age of 43 in 1967 due to an accident. She then became a single parent. She raised her two youngest sons and a daughter and worked to provide income for her family.

Doris was active in the Cursillo movement within the Catholic Church. She helped organize retreats and led work sessions at the retreats. For much of her adult life, Doris committed herself to daily prayer and study, putting it into practice in her daily life. In her own quiet way, she was a prayer warrior.

Doris loved being a grandparent to Rose Ann and Rachel (Betsy and Gary Gould), Jessica (Robert Astley and Lana Astley Baker) and Daniel (David Astley and Rae Ann Astley Eklund), and a great-grandparent to Dessa and Jona (Rachel Gould and Brian Bireley). Her biggest joy was taking care of them and being with them.

Doris moved to Seattle in 1994 to be near her daughter Betsy, son Robert, and granddaughters Jessica and Rachel. In 2004, she moved to Walla Walla to be near her family. Doris resided at the Walla Walla Veterans Home at the time of her death.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Kathy Bense; sons, Robert Astley and David Astley (Susan); granddaughters, Jessica Astley and Rachel Gould (Brian Bireley); grandson, Daniel Astley Eklund; and great-grandchildren, Dessa Hunt Gould and Jona Bireley. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Betsy Gould, and granddaughter, Rose Ann Gould.

Viewing and visitation will be held Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 4:00 PM, followed by the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 PM at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home, with Monesa Grant officiating. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with Father Andrew O’Leary celebrating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Aide Center, Save the Children, or Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.

You are always in our heart’s mom.