Sussman-Laabs

Notes for: Dorris Vivien Waddell b 1911

Marriage Information:

Census Information:

Other information: SSN 522-12-6882. Death Cert. father Kirkland F. Waddell and mother Jo Annice Harris. Per her instructions at death, her ashes were to be spread in Syracuse KS at the cemetery where her husband Ralph and her parents are buried (Syracuse Cemetery, Syracuse, Hamilton Co., KS). 1820 Syracuse, Hamilton, KS census, father was K.F. Waddell 35 a railroad agent, mother was Anna 36, and brother was Kirkland Waddell 7 all born KS - Ralph and Dorris never had children. Ralph was a heavy equipment operator for Santa Fe and he and Dorris lived much of their life in a converted box car and later a converted passenger car. The railroad would hook them up with their equipment and take them to where ever they wanted Ralph to use his bulldozer to do construction. They lived in Albuquerque for awhile, then hit the road, the lived in Rincon and Hatch NM in their passenger car and retired to an apartment in Albuquerque. Ralph developed Altzheimer's disease about 10 years before his death and Dorris was forced to put him in a home near Albuquerque to be taken care of. She visited him religiously until his death and some days were ok and some days were bad. Dorris was always active in the Eastern Star and as an accomplished pianist and organist, was always playing for one affair or another. She and Ralph were favorites of Raymond D. Shasteen and one of his fondest memories of them is his visit to stay with them in their passenger car in Rincon for a week or so one summer when he was about ten

Albuquerque Journal OBIT - Shasteen -- Mrs. R.O. (Dorris) Shasteen passed away Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at the age of 86. Mrs. Shasteen's request was no funeral services. Cremains will be sent to Syracuse, KS, where her husband, Ralph and parents are buried. She was a member of the Methodist Church; San Marcial #34 O.E.S.; White Shrine; N.A.R.V.E Railroad Club; zoo parent of Rio Grande Zoo; and played organ at Protestant services at the Veterans Hospital for many years. Mrs. Shasteen leaves her sister-in-law, Kay Waddell and family; nephews, Ray Waddell and family, Joe Waddell and family, and Raymond Shasteen and family; and niece, Mrs. Libby Trusell and family; and many special friends.