Doris Byrne

Doris Anne Byrne
1934 - 2025

Doris Anne (Kilworth) Byrne, our beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, January 4, 2025 with her husband John and twin children at her side. She lived 90 years, eight months and eight days.

Doris was born April 27, 1934 just outside Exira, Iowa to Alonzo Hollis and Sadie Mae (Tando) Kilworth. She was the third of four children and their only daughter.

Doris was raised on her parent’s farm near Exira and graduated from Exira High School in 1952. She had many happy memories of living on the farm - walking to country school #6 with her brothers Darrell and Walt, reading Nancy Drew as a young girl, Walt's practical jokes and being raised by her quiet but loving mother and her very social and colorful dad. When she was 10, tragedy hit the family and her oldest brother Hughie was killed in a farming accident.

Doris went to college in Storm Lake, Iowa and subsequently decided to enter the work world in Des Moines before moving to Omaha. She worked for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and then the Ford Motor Company doing office work. Doris met her husband-to-be, John, while attending a dance at the Music Box in Omaha in the summer of 1954. They married May 14, 1955 in Omaha at St Peter’s Catholic Church and immediately set out to start a new life in Eugene, Oregon.

Doris and John had six children after settling in Oregon. Doris said her greatest passion was to be a loving mother. She was actively involved in many of her kids activities including bluebirds, cub scouts, EBAA and helping as a teacher assistant at St. Paul’s. While at St. Paul’s, she was active in the Altar Society, St. Jude’s guild and Elder Care where she made many close lifelong friends.

As her kids grew older, she worked at Sheldon High School for 18 years as a counselor aide, retiring in 1998. She had a love of American history and became a member of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution.

For fun, she and John square-danced with the Daisy Chainers and were members of the Eagles and Elks. She loved gardening and flowers, with variegated roses and Japanese lace leaf maples being particular favorites. She traveled with John and friends to Ireland, France, Italy, England, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Yugoslavia, Monaco and Hawaii. The family skied at HooDoo ski area in the 1970’s and made annual skiing trips to Lake Tahoe with her brothers and their wives in the 80’s and 90’s.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, infant daughter Nancy and brothers Hughie and Walt Kilworth.

Doris is survived by her loving husband of nearly 70 years, John; her older brother Darrell Kilworth; her children Steve Byrne (Denise Bray), Sue (George) Doorly, Greg (Susie) Byrne, Julie (Greg) Mackintosh and Patrick Byrne (Amy Tuttle); grandchildren Stephanie Doorly (Colin Lince), Nicole Doorly (Joe Turic), Andrus (Josh) Thompson, Henry Harper, Grant Mackintosh and Emma Mackintosh; great-grandchildren Ethan and Claire Turic and many nieces and nephews.

Her radiant kindness and cheerful spirit will be remembered and cherished by all who knew her. She had compassion for all people (and animals), especially children, the elderly or anyone suffering. Her passing leaves a huge void in our lives that will never be filled, but her warmth and nurturing goodness will live on in each of us and guide us forward. 

The family would like to thank Peace Health Hospice for their tender and compassionate care of Doris and the devoted caregivers of Grace Manor assisted living.

Her service is planned for Wednesday, January 22, at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Catholic Church at 1201 Satre Street in Eugene. A reception will follow at the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carmelite Nuns of Eugene and Peace Health Hospice, in honor of Doris.