Doris Caron

Doris May Caron, age 88 of Faribault, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, November 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault with Christine Sorensen, Pastoral Minister, officiating. Interment will be held at the St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and will continue on Monday for one hour prior to services.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorials be directed to the Faribault Area Hospice in memory of Doris.

Doris May, the daughter of Ara J. "Spike" and Eleanor (Gunderson) Soule was born in St. Paul, MN at Miller Hospital on March 9, 1927. Her preschool years were spent in Northome, MN. The family moved to Cannon Falls where Doris started kindergarten and graduated high school in 1945. The war years were not easy and when Doris was 12 years old she started working at the Cannon Falls movie theater. She was employed there until she moved to Minneapolis and worked as a secretary at Honeywell for 3 years. Here, her work ethic was recognized with many promotions. But, her life changed when she met Richard Caron while they both were employed at Honeywell.

Richard and Doris married in Faribault on June 26, 1948. One year later their first son was born and the last son arrived 17 years after that. Early on the family moved back and forth from Minnesota to California before settling in Faribault and buying the Standard Oil Station on Central Avenue in 1960. They bought and managed Rainbow Island Campground for 7 years, while still running the gas station. When Doris experienced a health issue, Richard decided life was too short to work so hard and they sold both businesses, bought a motorhome, packed up the five youngest children and traveled the U.S. for four months.

Richard and Doris were charter members of the Faribault Moose Lodge and Doris served as president of the Women's Auxiliary where she developed great friendships and recalled many fond memories. She was also so proud of the friends from her schooldays-some since kindergarten-and she attended her last class reunion in August 2015.

Doris kept busy raising eight children and opening "her kitchen" to any of their friends and the family; there was always room for one more at the table. She passed many hours sewing and mending, making afghans and quilts for every family member, playing games and cards, counting hockey pull tabs and watching her children's and grandchildren's sporting events and activities. She especially enjoyed following Bill's softball team to nationals in many states (she always smiled when she shared how the "boys" still called her Mom). And, of course, she and Richard loved to go to the casino.

Doris loved life and passed that joy on to her progeny. She acted in plays, starting in elementary school in "Our Town" and later "The Campbell's Are Coming" at Sacred Heart while pregnant with one of the boys. She dedicated her life to raising her eight children: Todd, Jan, Lori, Scott, Dana, Craig, Rick and Bill. She also loved and cared for 12 grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Doris opened her heart and her home to all who passed her way. She had her share of heartaches-losing a son way too soon, sending sons off to war and coming to the aid of children, family and friends facing the challenges life brings. Her heart filled with joy every time she could laugh, love and give. She had a life well lived.

Doris is survived by seven children: Todd, Jan (Dan) Studer, Lori, Dana, Craig, Rick (Sandy) and Bill; by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; by two brothers, James (Arletta) Soule of Cannon Falls, MN and Gary (Sue) Soule of Edina, MN; by her sister, Elizabeth Nolan of Carson City, NV and by other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Scott Caron and by two brothers, Bruce and Scott Soule.