Doris Allison, aka "WildCard the Clown", passed Sunday, September 5, 2010. Doris was born in Little Rock Arkansas on February 4, 1921, to Luther and Minnie Lee Taylor Davis. She joined her older sister Dorothy - with siblings Eloise, Bill, Jimmy, Jean and Bobby soon following. Doris grew up in Arkansas and St. Louis during the depression years, in a very loving family, but one that struggled with the hard times of that era. Her autobiography "Hindsight" documented those times and she never forgot those early lessons of survival, the value of hard work and self-determination. In 1940, at age of nineteen, Doris left St. Louis headed to California. She lived in LA for a short time, returning to St. Louis where she married James Webb in 1941. She and James returned to California and she worked in the garment factories while he served in the military during WWII. James died of cancer in 1954. In June of 1957, Doris married Joe Cozzo, a blind musician. That relationship opened up a new world for her in California, where she met and socialized with entertainers like Dean Martin, Phil Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald. The marriage ended in 1961, and Doris moved to Riggins, where she met her husband, Arny Allison, and began the Idaho chapter of her life. Doris and Arny loved to travel, fish and camp in the Salmon River country. They loved the mountain lakes, fishing and camping on the Snake and Salmon Rivers, traveling the back roads and visiting the Oregon Coast. Doris was always a hardworking woman, very bright, very talented and determined to master every task she took on - all with great flair! She was an author, worked in garment factories, the post office, did cleaning, worked in restaurants, and was a cocktail waitress. While she did not have the advantage of a good education, Doris was very bright and a very wise woman. In 1966 the Bank of Central Idaho opened in Riggins, with the Governor, the Bank President and Doris standing on the steps welcoming customers. She started as a teller on that opening day, and worked her way up to the top position of Bank Manager by her retirement in 1982. Banking proved to be quite exciting for Doris - she survived the armed bank robbery in Riggins in 1981, after being locked in the bank safe with two other employees. The robbers were eventually caught, and Doris was a star witness at their trial! In 1988, Doris's husband Arny passed away, and she moved to Boise. She wanted to continue to work, and that she did - as a telemarketer, tour guide and eventually as a clerk for the Department of Corrections. In 1999, at 78 years young, Doris decided to be a clown. She attended Clown school in Boise and "WildCard" was born! She was associated with Smile Aide as a hospital clown, volunteering weekly at St Al's and St Lukes. She was dedicated to clowning, and took great pleasure in sparking just one smile on a child's or patient's face. WildCard was well known, and loved, in the Boise area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands James and Arny, her sisters Dorothy and Jean and brothers Bill, Jimmy and Bobby. She is survived by her sister Eloise (and Jimmy) Ogilvie of Meridian. A memorial service celebrating Doris's life will be held at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel with graveside services at the Riggins Cemetery, in Riggins, Idaho.

Published in Idaho Statesman on September 8, 2010