PRYOR, Okla. — A woman from the Wenatchee area and her mother-in-law were killed in a tornado in Oklahoma on May 26. Tawna Doran had just moved there a year and a half ago from Washington.
KING 5 spoke to Bob Doran, Tawna’s father, over a video call. Although he lives in Everett, he has been in Oklahoma staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital to help care for his three grandchildren. He said his daughter always had a fierce love for her children.
“I always used to like to say that there wasn't anything that my daughter wouldn't do for her children, and she's proved that,” said Bob Doran, with tears in his eyes. "She and her mother-in-law proved that, they gave the ultimate sacrifice. I always knew she would, I just wish she wouldn't have had to."
Tawna and her mother-in-law, Linda Lee, were killed when a tornado hit their home. Doran said they died protecting the children.
Doran said Tawna’s husband tried to open a storm shelter just outside the door but then was sucked inside and thrown against their Suburban. He is now out of the hospital, recovering from injuries, and caring for the kids.
Doran said Tawna, Linda, and the 15-year-old daughter covered the 4- and 6-year-old kids to protect them. The kids all survived, but Tawna and Linda did not make it.
“They know that grandma and mom- they remember what happened,” said Doran.
The home is now destroyed and mangled in nearby trees.
“The house was moved about 100 to 150 feet,” said Doran. “It was actually picked up and thrown into a tree.”
The younger children are now out of the hospital, but Doran said the 6-year-old has a broken leg and some neck trauma. The 15-year-old has several broken bones and had to undergo surgery. Doran said she will be in the hospital for about two more weeks.
“She has cuts and bruises and contusions all over her backside where she was covering,” said Doran. “The tornado came and threw everything at her, and she stayed on her brother and sister.”
Although the road ahead is long and the loss unimaginable, Doran said his three grandkids are here today because of selfless love.
“I wanted everybody to know that they are all heroes in my book,” said Doran.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.