Carol Petrie Dornfeld passed away unexpectedly at the age of 84 on May 27, 2025. She was born on Sept. 14, 1940, in Toledo, Washington, to Herb and Helen Petrie. Her formative years were spent in Chehalis, Washington, and she graduated from Chehalis High School in 1958. While in high school, Carol was a member of student council, song queen, and a baton twirler on the drill team. She was also the leader of the International Order of Rainbow Girls, an organization focusing on leadership, confidence, and citizenship in young women, in 1957. Carol attended Centralia Junior College, where she was crowned Junior College Homecoming Queen in 1959, and Central Washington College in Ellensburg, Washington.
Married to Richard Dornfeld of Bremerton, Washington, for 26 years, Carol and Dick made various homes together in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Spokane and Tacoma, Washington, in the early days of their marriage, eventually settling in Portland, Oregon. After their divorce, she stayed in Portland and raised their three daughters while working full time as a single mom—first as an assistant in the central office at Beaverton High School and then for over two decades as a legal secretary in the law firm of Tonkon, Torp, Galen, Marmaduke & Booth. Carol was also very proud of her time working as a legal secretary for Edgar Newton Eisenhower, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s brother, while she was living in Tacoma. In 2006, Carol moved to Keizer, Oregon, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.
Carol was truly an exceptional mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. She taught her three daughters the meaning of love, independence, sacrifice, selflessness, hard work—and, most importantly, what it meant to be a good mom. She was the keeper of our memories and will be genuinely, heartbreakingly, and eternally missed.
Affectionately known as “GMa” to her eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Carol’s big brown eyes sparkled whenever she was around them or talked about them. Her GMa pride knew no bounds, and everyone around her knew it. Her French toast and banana muffins were legendary and the first things they asked for when she visited. Annual August family vacations to Central Oregon were her opportunities to gather together her devotedly close—but geographically scattered—family and spend uninterrupted time in the sunshine, playing golf and board games, riding bikes, and enjoying “walks to coffee.” These trips will continue on and will now be our time to honor her memory.
Carol was a sports enthusiast, an avid reader, and a prolific puzzler. She religiously followed Washington Husky football games and traveled around from state to state to watch the sporting and dance events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved playing golf with her friends at McNary Golf Club and regaling her family with stories from her McNary “Hit n’ Giggles” events.
Lemon Drop cocktails, Starbucks nonfat no-water chai lattes, Rice Krispie treats, and apple fritters were among her favorite things—and indeed she enjoyed some of them the last weekend of her life. We are so grateful that her last few days in this world were spent celebrating with family and some of the people she loved most in this world.
Carol is survived by her three daughters and their families: Angela (Larry) Keeker and their children, Jordan (Larissa) Keeker and Taylor (Chad) Miller, and great-grandchildren Redington, Boone, Harper, and Charlotte; Mardi (David) Durkin and their children, Drew, Andie, James, and Lane; and Nicole (Darren) Casey and their children, Caroline and Charles.
Carol was predeceased by her parents, her adored older brother, Gary, and an infant son, Lane. We imagine her now bathed in their eternal love and company.
A private graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, June 16, at Winlock Cemetery.
