Dortha J Headrick

Dortha Jean Headrick died Sunday, January 14, 2024 at Aspen Park of Cascadia in Moscow.

She was born on Dec. 25, 1930 to Mattie Gaines Clark, delivered in Moscow by Dr. Charles Gritman. She has been a lifelong area resident and graduated from Pullman High School in 1950. She moved to Potlatch when she married Grover Eliel “Lyle” Headrick in 1951. Dortha will be laid to rest beside Lyle in the Rock Creek Cemetery.

Dortha moved to Blaine Street in Moscow in 1991. She was always a homemaker and had been a Granger for more than 70 years, first in the Rock Creek Grange and later in the Princeton Grange. She enjoyed her monthly pinochle with her Rock Creek neighbors and friends even after she moved to Moscow. She enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends through notes and cards, texting, phone calls, emails, and Facebook.

She lived at Paradise Creek Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia (formerly Good Samaritan) from August 2022 until December 2023, then moved to Aspen Park. The family would like to thank Isaak Julye for his ongoing work and friendship, Judy Cornish and Laura Moore and their staff of Palouse Dementia Care for their daily care and relationships, as well as the staff at Good Samaritan Village and Aspen Park of Cascadia for their work, and the numerous family members for everyone’s contributions to Dortha’s last few feisty years of life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Eliel “Lyle” Headrick; companions Ray Bell and Charlie Bower; sons-in-law John Sweeney of Potlatch and Jack Gilbert of Potlatch. Dortha leaves behind two daughters, Ruth Sweeney of Potlatch; and Patty Gilbert of Potlatch; two sons, Ken Headrick (wife Linda) of Newport, Wash.; and Jim “Hudd” Headrick of Garfield, Wash.; six granddaughters: Judie Headrick of Moscow; Machelle Harris (husband Troy) of Mead, Wash.; Kendra Mendoza of Newport, Wash.; Stephanie Herbert (husband Tim) of Lewiston; Carol Clay (husband Eddie) of Woodstock, Ga.; Kellie Atkinson (husband Rob) of Moscow; and eight great-grandchildren.

A public viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Short's Funeral Chapel. A private graveside service will follow. A public celebration of life service is planned for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Princeton Nazarene Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department, the Potlatch Rural Fire District or your local emergency services organization.