Louise Doty Celebrates Her 102nd Birthday
Imagine living through not only one pandemic but two during your lifetime — that’s just what St. Francis Manor resident Louise Doty has done! Anna Louise Larsen was born in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic, she recovered from COVID-19 in May 2020, and celebrated her 102nd birthday on November 25!
Louise graduated from Grinnell High School, taught in rural schools, then married Melvin Doty of Brooklyn in 1939. They raised three children on a dairy/hog/chicken farm where Louise was busy with a huge garden and chicken and dairy chores. According to her daughter Marlene Toney, Louise’s Norwegian heritage led to wonderful cooking; she perfected Custard Pie! Louise taught Sunday School at Madison Church of Christ and was a 4-H leader. For 20 years she was the office manager of the Farm Bureau office in Brooklyn.
Following retirement and moving to Grinnell, Louise and Melvin built a home at Seeland Park in January 1998. Louise downsized to an apartment in Seeland Park’s 10-plex in 2014 and has been residing at St. Francis Manor since August of 2016.
Louise’s family includes her three children: Marlene (Bob) Toney of Clive; Merle (Gloria) Doty of Grinnell and Eugene (Robyn) Doty of Texas; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 14 spouses and 1 great-grandchild on the way bringing the soon to be total to 55! “My family is grateful for Mom’s wisdom and strong faith which is being carried on through each generation,” concludes Marlene.
