Dorothy was born April 24, 1918 in Wilsonville, to Dorris and Mattie Young.  She was a granddaughter and great granddaughter of Oregon pioneers.  She attended Wilsonville Grade School, West Linn High School, and received Mortarboard honors for service and academic excellence at her graduation from Oregon State College in 1939.  She was a 50-year member of Eastern Star Holly Chapter #126.

She married James B. Lehan in 1944; he died in 1988.

During WWII she worked for the Pacific Overseas Air Service Command, managing in-transit depots in Portland and Seattle.  She worked for Ross B. Hammond Co. as the office manager throughout the construction of Dammasch State Hospital.  When Dammasch opened in 1961 she served as Director of Volunteer Services and later, as Coordinator of Activity Therapies.  She worked at Dammasch for 23 years, served on the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Oregon, and was a State Employee of the Year in 1972.

A life-long supporter of education, she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, served as President of the Wilsonville Grade School PTA, was the first Wilsonville representative - and the first woman - to serve on the West Linn School Board, which she chaired for three years.  She was the key proponent behind the 1967 purchase of land for the future Wilsonville High School.

She spent many months working with Phil Balsiger and others on the initial incorporation of the City of Wilsonville in 1969, and served on the City's Budget Committee after that.

Obituary from Wilsonville Spokesman:  James B. Lehan

James Baird Lehan, a resident of Wilsonville, for 44 years, died at home Monday, Jan. 4.  He was born June 28, 1905 in Dunlap, Iowa, the eldest son of Dr. James W. Lehan and Helen Baird Lehan.  The family moved to Greeley, Colorado when he was very young.

A graduate of Kemper Military Academy in Missouri, and of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, he received his masters degree from Stanford University in Political Science.  During World War II, Mr. Lehan served with the U.S. Army, 49th Bombardment Wing in Europe and North Africa.  He taught high school and junior high for many years, in Tigard and Salem, retiring from the South Salem School District in 1970.  He was a member of VFW, OEA, and NEA.

Surviving besides his wife, Dorothy, are one son, James Q. Lehan of Sparks, Nevada; three daughters, Susan Wiancko and Charlotte Lehan of Portland and Adele Lehan of Wilsonville; one sister, Charlotte Bauer of Greeley; and four grandsons.  At Mr. Lehan's request there were no services.