Dora

Ruble

With love and sadness, we announce the passing of Dora Ruble, 87, on November 4th, 2026, in Mount Vernon, Washington with her daughters by her side.

Dora was born on June 3, 1939, in Elgin, North Dakota to Benjamen and Freida Mehrer. She grew up the only girl on her family’s farm, learning the meaning of hard work. She was raised with Christian values in the Seventh Day Adventists Church.

Ray and Dora met originally while attending school at Walla Walla College, but it was on a New Years Eve on the corner of 1st Ave in Seattle where their romance began. They were married in May of 1962 and made their first home in Coupeville, WA. Not only was Dora working on their family farm, but she worked for Island County Sheriffs Department and for a local family physician as well. In 1972 they moved their family to Burlington, WA and both Ray and Dora began their careers with All West Select Sires, where Dora retired after 37 years in 2009.

The Barbershop community was an important part of her life, and she was a master at entertaining and hosting annual events supporting the An-O-Chords and attending many an Afterglow! She and Ray traveled with their girls and many family friends throughout the United States and Canada to International Barbershop Conventions, where singing was just part of the great time they shared.

“Gran” soon became her favorite name, and spending time with her two grandchildren truly lit up her life. Teaching them how to fish, garden, cook, sew and just spending time with them brought her joy.

Dora could turn any gathering into a party. She has been known to create a feast at happy hour out of peanut butter and saltine crackers! Her skills as a hostess were infamous in the community, and she was always putting together events to celebrate friends and entertain guests. She was generous with sharing her homemaking prowess and many friends recall learning how to arrange a centerpiece or that a good dinner recipe starts with a cube of butter. If Dora need to make a point, “Girls, GIRLS!!” was the start of a sentence you best pay attention to!

She and Ray enjoyed traveling and were able to see enjoy many parts of the world to include Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji-but one of their favorite spots was Maui Sunset where they spent lots of time with their family and friends enjoying the sand and sun.

All of those who knew Dora will remember a generous heart, a gracious hostess, her quick laugh, and her love of family.

She is survived by her daughters, Tammy Reuble and Chuck Parde; Pam Harvey and husband John; her grandchildren Carson and Cooper Harvey; her brother Morris Mehrer; brother Don Mehrer and his wife Shirley and her confidant and caregiver, Debbie Schwarz and husband Mike. She was preceded in death by her love, Ray Reuble; her parents Ben and Freida Mehrer; her sister-in-law Dawn Mehrer; brother-in-law Jerry Reuble and brother-in-law Karl Reuble.

A private grave side service will be held for family, and a service to celebrate her life will be held at the Seventh Day Adventists Church in Burlington, WA on November 11, 2026, at 1pm.

Donations in her name can be made to Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Dr. Suite A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273