Doris Mccaffree Wertman

Doris McCaffree Wertman got her wings and joined her husband Bill Wertman (known to the family as GDB sometimes) and her beloved son Bill, “Billy,” in heaven on July 30, 2024. She passed away at St. John’s Liggett Cottage after residing at St John’s Vista for over five years.

She was born near Musselshell, Montana, on Jan. 15th or 16th depending on who you asked … her mother said the 15th and the records say the 16th … so she would laugh and we would celebrate twice. In addition to her husband and son, she was preceded in death by her five brothers and one sister.

She is survived by her children, Sandi Sullivan (Bob), their children Elli Erdahl (Jeff), Will Skiles (Amy), Suzanne Ross (Brian), Shelly Johnson (Scott Riggins), and Bobbie Thurston (Vance). Also her son Jim Wertman (Laurie), their children Eric Anderson (Kirby), Grady Wertman (Krystal), Annie Marais (Gert) and Beth Schwartz (Karl). Her late son Bill’s family includes Jodean Violett (Toby), Devin Wertman and Lindsey Wertman. Doris also has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, with three more great-great-grandchildren on the way. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well.

Doris was extremely devoted to each and everyone of the loved ones who made up the five generations of her family. She was a very accomplished self-taught landscape artist. In addition to her family and art, she enjoyed every sport there was … from her playing basketball while in high school to being a state champion bowler and being a course champion golfer. If she wasn’t competing, she was watching … Denver Broncos, Seattle Mariners, and Montana Cats and Griz were among the favorites.

While living at the Vista, she enjoyed the bowling, bingo and jigsaw puzzle “completion”… that means that in order to be the one who can claim they finished the puzzle … you had to put in the last pieces … so she would “borrow” a few pieces, take them to her apartment and return them only when it was time to complete the puzzle. Unfortunately, she would forget she had them or hid them, so many puzzles were unfinished.

Of the sports, we believe that golfing was her favorite and she golfed until she was 92. It was her wish to be buried in her golf clothes so she would be ready for her first round in heaven. We honored that wish and, in addition to being buried in her golf clothes, we also included her visor with her birdie pins, shoes, and a ball mark. To make sure she didn’t get creative with the scores, we also put in her handicap card. She also loved playing cribbage with the grandkids who all quickly learned to keep an eye on how she counted her cards. She was famous not only for her art, but also for her famous cinnamon rolls, dill pickles and Oreo cookies.

She was very proud of the fact that she was a telegraph operator during the war when she worked for the railroad and sent and received messages for the soldiers. During her final days she was unable to speak but she would take our hand and begin tapping with her fingers….we are convinced that she was sending us messages in Morse code. Since none of us know Morse, we just hoped they were PG rated.

Doris held many other jobs during her life, from being a clerk and bookkeeper to her bank jobs in Hardin and Bozeman. She was raised as a hardworking ranch girl who was extremely proud of her Irish heritage. Her green Irish eyes would sparkle and her Irish disposition would let you know if things were good or bad. She was know to family as the Energizer Bunny and her work ethic was unmatched to the end. When asked, her grandchildren described her as artistic, creative, reliable, strong, spirited, ornery, loving, feisty, resilient, nurturing, selfless, determined, formidable and loving. Most of all … devoted and loving.

The family would like to thank St. John’s the Vista and the Liggett Cottage staff for all of the selfless care and love they gave Mother. They would also like to thank the St. John’s Hospice team, who were remarkable and aided them through the journey. She was spoiled and treated like a queen. We are at a loss for words to describe how much you all are appreciated.

As we say goodbye, she will leave behind a void that cannot be filled but a memory that cannot be matched. We love you, now go enjoy that round of golf!

The family asks that, instead of flowers, you go spend time with your family or enjoy round of golf.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave.