Oskaloosa. Doris Cranston, 86, of Oskaloosa died Saturday, August 12, 2017, at her home in Oskaloosa. She was born July 23, 1931, in rural Mahaska County the daughter of Virgil and Gladys May Ferguson Hauenstein. She graduated from Tracy High School with the class of 1949. On March 4, 1949, she was united in marriage to Rex Clair "R.C." Cranston at Bloomfield, Iowa, Clair died on January 18, 1998. Following their marriage Doris helped Clair on the farm. Doris also cared for her family and home. She had a large garden that she kept every year and canned much of what she grew. Doris was also a wonderful cook and baker. She also enjoyed tending to the family's herd of Black Angus cattle that her father started. She also worked in town at Jean Goode's daycare and preschool. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Oskaloosa. She loved flowers and wildlife. She enjoyed spending time with her family, mushroom hunting and traveling with Clair. Doris delighted in spending time with her grandchi...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

en and looked forward to summer time when they could come and stay for extended amounts of time.

Her family includes her five children, Linda (Charles) Scholtus of Albia, Iowa, Lorraine (Gary) Moore of Tucson, Arizona, Kay Cranston of Pella, Iowa, Jacyn (Sandy) Cranston of Eddyville, and Lisa (Dave) Gunsolley of Pleasantville, Iowa; twelve grandchildren, Jackie (Joe) Bay, Ed (Tanya) Scholtus, Dan (Linda) Scholtus, Josh (Sarah) Scholtus, Wendy (J.P.) Palomo, Matthew Moore, Heather Ziruolo, Jay Cranston, Jessy Cranston, Eric (Andra) Gunsolley, Kaitlin Gunsolley, and Colton Gunsolley; twenty five great grandchildren; eleven great great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren due in September; her sister, June (Harris) VanEssen of Tracy; a sister in law, Dorothy Hauenstein of Knoxville; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Laverne (Liz) Hauenstein and Verlan Hauenstein; and two sisters, Mildred (Bill) Holdsworth and Marie (Bob) Mason.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Michael Dotson officiating. Burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery in southwest Mahaska County. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Open visitation will begin Tuesday after 12 noon and will continue until 8 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel. The family will be at the funeral chapel on Wednesday morning to greet friends and relatives from 9:30 until service time at 10:30. Memorials may be made to the Mahaska County Conservation Environmental Learning Center.