Louise Doty turns 103!

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 103rd birthday on November 25! Louise was able to enjoy an early celebration with her three children and their spouses in the home of one of her sons, Merle (Gloria) Doty.

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. 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.