Mary Fern Hensler Doyle was my mother. I am the oldest of her 5 daughters. I think it is fair to say my sisters and I share an admiration for our mother for the many traits and talents she exhibited early in our lives until her passing at the young age of 49.
Mom grew up in Fern Valley with her sisters Florence, Alice and their brother Tom. She graduated from Pheonix High School and went on to study nursing and receive her RN from Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. Shortly after graduation she enlisted in the Army Nurses Corp and served for four years during WWII in Italy, France and North Africa. She met my Dad, Pat, through his sister, Tess, who was also a nurse and worked at Community Hospital in Medford.
After living in Devils Lake, N. Dakota for 4 years she was delighted to move back to Medford in 1951, with my Dad, and 2 sisters, Patty and Mary K. Susan and Kelly joined our family in 1956 and 1958. Mom didn’t pursue full time nursing again until shortly before she passed in 1968. She was a full time loving, and caring, stay-at-home Mom. She was a wonderful homemaker, cook and baker and always had a treat for us when we got home from school! She also sewed beautifully canned fruits and vegetables, and loved flowers of all kinds!
Mom always put her family above herself. She was close to her sister Alice (my namesake) and her brother Tom and their families and kept us connected to our extended families. We have fond memories of spending many summer days at the pool (referred to as “Fred’s Pool”) Uncle Charles (Swingle) built behind his house. It was a fun crowd when we were joined by our Coos Bay cousins! We particularly loved it when Mom and Aunt Alice would join us in the pool wearing their swim suits!!
Mom was a loving, warm, caring and encouraging mother. The only memory I have of her losing her temper with me involved me saying the “F” word. That resulted in a slap to the cheek. I was about 12. There was no swearing or cussing in our household. Imagine! I never did that again – at least not in her company) !
We lost our mother, as well as our father, at a very early age. As a result, my sisters and I have a very strong bond and enjoy a close-knit relationship. For that we are expremely fortunate and grateful!
From Alice Doyle:
Mary Fern Hensler Doyle was my mother. I am the oldest of her 5 daughters. I think it is fair to say my sisters and I share an admiration for our mother for the many traits and talents she exhibited early in our lives until her passing at the young age of 49.
Mom grew up in Fern Valley with her sisters Florence, Alice and their brother Tom. She graduated from Pheonix High School and went on to study nursing and receive her RN from Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. Shortly after graduation she enlisted in the Army Nurses Corp and served for four years during WWII in Italy, France and North Africa. She met my Dad, Pat, through his sister, Tess, who was also a nurse and worked at Community Hospital in Medford.
After living in Devils Lake, N. Dakota for 4 years she was delighted to move back to Medford in 1951, with my Dad, and 2 sisters, Patty and Mary K. Susan and Kelly joined our family in 1956 and 1958. Mom didn’t pursue full time nursing again until shortly before she passed in 1968. She was a full time loving, and caring, stay-at-home Mom. She was a wonderful homemaker, cook and baker and always had a treat for us when we got home from school! She also sewed beautifully canned fruits and vegetables, and loved flowers of all kinds!
Mom always put her family above herself. She was close to her sister Alice (my namesake) and her brother Tom and their families and kept us connected to our extended families. We have fond memories of spending many summer days at the pool (referred to as “Fred’s Pool”) Uncle Charles (Swingle) built behind his house. It was a fun crowd when we were joined by our Coos Bay cousins! We particularly loved it when Mom and Aunt Alice would join us in the pool wearing their swim suits!!
Mom was a loving, warm, caring and encouraging mother. The only memory I have of her losing her temper with me involved me saying the “F” word. That resulted in a slap to the cheek. I was about 12. There was no swearing or cussing in our household. Imagine! I never did that again – at least not in her company) !
We lost our mother, as well as our father, at a very early age. As a result, my sisters and I have a very strong bond and enjoy a close-knit relationship. For that we are expremely fortunate and grateful!