Dorann (Lewis) Thoreen
Dorann (Lewis) Thoreen, the daughter of Harmon and Hazel (Gaddis) Lewis, was born October 22, 1931, in Springfield, Missouri and passed from this life in Phoenix, Arizona on July 25, 2011, at the age of 79 after suffering a severe stroke. She had a most successful career as an educator being a very popular teacher of English and Spanish before her appointment as Assistant Principal at Maryvale High School in Phoenix. She left a profound influence upon her students at Parkview High School in Springfield, and Karl Hayden and Maryvale High Schools in Phoenix, and is cherished by them in their varied locations throughout the world. Dorann offered her students strong academic challenge coupled with fond affection and care. Her students now, achieving success in business, entertainment, professional sports, and varied occupations, cherish her memory and speak of her singular impact upon their lives. One student, Darrin Woodson, a well-known Dallas Cowboy, would pick up “Mrs. Thoreen” and twirl her about setting her down. She merely referred to the powerful athlete as her “sweet baby boy.” Some Springfield students remember the inflections of her musical voice leading them in girl scout camp songs and laughter at Camp Pin Oak. Others remember her at Parkview High School as the beautiful, young sponsor of the Lassie Drum Corps.
A stunning beauty at Missouri State University, she was crowned Ozarko Standard Ball Queen and Rose Queen. She was the president of Pi Kappa Sigma (now Sigma Kappa), a member of the Panhellenic Council, and elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. After college she attained a Master of Education Degree at the University of Missouri. On August 10, 1963 she married Art Thoreen at Stone Chapel on the Drury University Campus. Art and Dorann shared a love of sports holding season tickets in football and basketball enjoying college and professional games. They resided in Phoenix among dear friends where she sang in Sweet Adelines and was a member of the Skyharbor Navigators. In Phoenix she greatly enjoyed being in charge of escorting bus loads of high school students to Disneyland. Her travels included frequent trips to Springfield maintaining friendships with those close to her since childhood.
As a small child, her father’s work required a series of moves to Indiana, Kentucky, and Nebraska leading to her likeable, adaptive personality enabling her to make friends easily. In later life Dorann was privileged to travel to many foreign countries. It was said of her that she could take a cruise, and by the time she got off of the ship, she knew ninety percent of the passengers.
Nicknamed “Dodie” and always colorful, she was genetically joyful, effusive, exuberant, fun-loving, full of life, and optimistic. Her tastes were refined and sophisticated, and her kindly intelligence drew admiration and respect from those who knew her. Growing up on the north side of Springfield, she had a happy childhood playing yard games, begging ice chunks from the ice man, enjoying Sunday School, V.B.S., and making trips to Pamplin’s Store for ice cream sandwiches. Once, she and her younger cousin Terry Loveland were left alone at home, and their mothers gave them the stern warning, “We are going to the grocery store so don’t go out that door!” Consequently, they crawled out of the window. As a teen, she loved bunking parties and outings to Doling Park or Valley Watermill. Friends dear to her then, continued dear to her always. Empathetic and good humored, she recently gave an ailing childhood friend a fruit basket saying, “Don’t share it!”
Dorann was a life-long member of the Church of Christ. At church her most treasured beliefs were nurtured, and her strong traits of character and virtue were formed and developed. A special bond always existed with her friends within the church.
As Dorann held in highest esteem those who preceded her in death, her dearest relatives and friends who survive her, honor and cherish her now. Special to her is her husband Art, and her cousin Terry who was more like a younger brother. It was the habit of Dorann and Terry to end a telephone conversation by saying, “Toodle, mutual, love you mucho!” Terry is saying this one last time, and Art and all of us are saying to our departed loved one, “Goodnight here but good morning up there.”
Visitation will be in Greenlawn Funeral Home North on Monday, August 8, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be in the Greenlawn Funeral Home North Chapel on Tuesday, August 9, at 10:00 a.m. with internment following the service.