Ivy (Whitmire) Borchers, 69, of Dorena, Oregon, who passed away on May 2, 2024 at
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Hospital in Springfield, Oregon. She was surrounded by the family
she dedicated her life to, and much like her fiercely independent spirit, Lori fought valiantly
against cancer right to the end.
Lori is survived by her devoted husband of 44 years, Thomas “Tom” Roy Borchers, her daughter
Erin (Nicholas) Julin Ritch, son Ryan Thomas Borchers, granddaughters Olive Story Ritch and
Esper Beatrice Ritch, older sister Janice Lou Dame, and many other extended family members
who equally feel her loss. She is preceded in death by her beloved parents Lawrence Eugene
Whitmire and Wanda May (Childers) Whitmire. Lori mourned the loss of her parents deeply and
we are comforted by the knowledge they are together again.
Lori was born August 23,1954 in Klamath Falls, Oregon and lived near her grandparents, Virgil
and Ada Childers. The Whitmire family moved to San Diego, California in 1960 where Lori spent
the remainder of her childhood. After graduating from Morse High School, Lori attended Cal
Western School of Law and worked in administration at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
After meeting through mutual friends, Tom and Lori began dating in 1978 and married on
November 10, 1979 at Glen Abbey in Chula Vista, California. It was the start of a beautiful and
faithful partnership that consisted of many adventures, countless laughs, and constant love.
They welcomed Erin in 1982 and Ryan in 1984, but privately lost several children before birth,
souls that Lori looked forward to reuniting with in Heaven.
Early in their marriage, Tom and Lori made the decision for Lori to stay home and raise Erin and
Ryan, which included home education. Lori was an early pioneer in homeschooling at a time
when there were limited resources available. She faced much scrutiny for this choice but was
unwavering in her commitment to her children, and Lori successfully homeschooled both Erin
and Ryan through to their high school graduations in 2000 and 2002. Her efforts and the
wonderful experience she offered her children inspired Lori’s daughter, Erin, to homeschool her
own daughters.
Lori had many interests that occupied her retirement, including genealogy research, and a wide
array of arts and crafts, including painting, drawing, mosaics, decoupage, scrapbooking, and
much more. She played piano, loved cooking for her family, and visiting the ocean. Lori spent
every minute of her day loving and thinking of her family. An attentive wife, mother, and
grandmother, she loved Christmas and was known to start shopping many months in advance.
There was never a phone call she missed, offering an understanding ear and a word of advice.
She was our forever champion and her favorite days were the ones “with us all together.”
Lori’s absence is only consoled by the knowledge she is no longer in pain and in the arms of the
Heavenly Father that comforted her throughout her final days. A private memorial for Lori will be
held this summer.
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