Doris Jean DeLong OBITUARY

Doris Jean DeLong Doris Jean “Gramma DoDo” Sandin, Stout, Hamilton, DeLong passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024, at her home in Fortuna, California, at the age of 93, with daughter Bonnie and granddaughter Sara by her side. A Celebration of Doris’s life will be held at the Fortuna United Methodist Church, 922 N Street, Fortuna, CA, on May 4, 2024 @ 1:00 P.M. Doris was born on August 12, 1930, in Santa Paula, CA., joining sister Mary Lucille as the 2 daughters of George and Mary Sandin. At an early age her family moved north to Sebastopol, CA. In 1940 the family moved to Fortuna where her father had built a house on Drake Hill Road. She attended the Rohnerville Elementary School graduating in 1944, then graduated from Fortuna Union High School in 1948. During this time she was nicknamed “DoDo” by her friends and classmates as a substitute for “Doris”. Upon graduation, Doris had the opportunity to move to Los Angeles, where she met a young man named Clifford Stout. Doris and Cliff married Sept. 4, 1949, and lived in Culver City, CA. Nine months later they delivered their first child, Bonnie Lynne in June 1950, followed by Sandra Lee in June 1952, then Jan Franklin in 1955. In August 1955, Doris and Cliff loaded up and drove the long journey to Fortuna to start anew in Doris’s hometown. Five years later, Doris and Cliff moved into their new red custom home on Drake Hill Road. Doris and Cliff divorced in 1971, so she found jobs with businesses in town to supplement the catering business. Doris also joined a “Parents without Partners” group, where she met retired Lt. Colonel Wallace (Wally) Hamilton. They married in Feb 1973 and enjoyed 20 years together as Wally showed her the world with travel. After Wally’s sudden passing in 1993 Doris was alone again until her dear friends conspired to connect her with their widower neighbor, Phil DeLong. They hit it off and married in 1997, enjoying 16 years together. Doris’s legacy of love, laughter, kindness, generosity and creativity will be forever remembered by her family and friends. She was truly a dynamo known for her drive, gumption, creativity, and joy. She was a dedicated member of the Fortuna Methodist Church for over 75 years where she sang in the choir and directed it for 35 years. Doris was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and was also very proud of her Scottish heritage. In her free time, Doris enjoyed entertaining and hosting gatherings and playing the piano for Senior Care facilities, as well as hosting her FUHS classmates’ yearly reunions. She is survived by her children Bonnie, Sandra and Jan (Cindy), as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Doris was preceded in death by her parents George and Mary E. Sandin, sister Mary Lucille Jones (and husband Clifton Jones), nephew Kent Jones, husbands Wallace L. Hamilton and Philip J. DeLong.