Moscow, Idaho – Loris Jones Dudley, 100, passed into heaven on November 16, 2022, at her home is Moscow. She died of complications of a fall on November 10.
Loris Jean Cain was born August 28, 1922 in Manhattan, Kansas to John and Estella (Caldwell) Cain, joining her sister and brother, Agnes and Charles. She and her mother moved to G. California when Loris was in her early teens because her mother could earn as much in an hour as her wage was for a day in Kansas.
Loris married Tome Trani in San Pedro, and daughter Lynne was born in 1939. Their marriage ended in divorce and she met Donald Jones of Genesee while they were both working at Douglas Aircraft Building C-41’s. Daughter Jenna was born in 1944. After don was discharged from the Army AirCorps, they moved to the family farm in Genesee. Son Howard was born in 1949 and daughter Dorothy, in 1953.
Loris was active with helping on the farm, raising kids, gardening and preserving food while also enjoying the social gatherings at the Aspendale Club and bowling leagues. In 1960, she started working outside the home starting with the Census Bureau and then the University of Idaho. She moved on to a front desk job at the Daily Idahonian and eventually became an agriculture editor. Her welly column “From The Back 40” was a portrayal of the up’s and down’s of farming mixed with a bit of humor. Loris won several awards for her journalism efforts.
After Don passed away in 1983 she expanded her social life to include square dancing. It was there that she fell in love with Robert Dudley of Moscow. They are married in 1986 and were soon enjoying many other pursuits besides square dancing. Tennis, golf, travel and bridge were their favorites, especially after Loris retired from the paper.
Loris was active in several organizations including the National Farmers Organization and the National Federation of Press Women, she was a member of the Palouse Promenaders and Bridge Bible Fellowship and volunteered many hours at Gritman Hospital with the Gritman Auxiliary.
Her hobbies included reading, crocheting and needlework, watching sports and Jeopardy on television and keeping up with the Daily Idahonian and Lewiston Morning Tribute . She enjoyed music, Bob and her spend many hours holding hands while watching Lawrence Welk. Loris once shared a dance with Welk while living in California. She also enjoyed tending her flowers beds and appreciating their beauty. She had a great sense of humor which is survived through memory loss and even the pain of her fall.
Loris is survived by her husband Robert Dudley, her daughters Lynne Whelenkott (husband Jim) of Kamian and Dorothy Ongstad (husband Ray) of Genesee and Son Howard Jones (wife Mary) also of Genesee.
