Dora Neer

For Dora Neer, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and proud grandmother, who did everything she could to support and encourage her loved ones. Her years of love and dedication afforded her both a happy place in life, and a family that loved her dearly. The widespread prosperity of the 1920s ended abruptly with the stock market crash of 1929, and the great economic depression that followed. The Depression threatened peoples jobs, their savings and even their homes and farms. For many Americans, these were hard times. For Mel and Ora (Fremd) Crawford, life in Whitehall Township, Michigan was no different, but their lives were brightened with the birth of their daughter, Dora Leanis, on August 24, 1929. Dora grew up in a close-knit family in Rothbury, Michigan; she was one of thirteen children. Tragedy struck their family, however, when their mother died in 1937, leaving Doras older sisters to raise her. With a large family, living in the midst of the Depression, it was necessary for the children all to find work to help provide for the family. Many of them worked in the fields during the summer, picking fruits and vegetables for local farmers. Dora received her education in the Montague Schools, and it was while in high school that she met George Fitzgerald. The two began dating and loved to go dancing to the music of the Big Bands. In 1948, after Dora graduated from high school, the sweethearts were married. They settled into their first home together in Twin Lake, and George provided for his new bride working at the Norge Plant in Muskegon. Over the next few years, Dora and George filled their hearts and home with the joy and laughter of four wonderful children: Tom, Valentina, Elaine and Pam. By the early 1960s, Dora and Georges marriage ended, and she and the kids moved to Lakewood Club, just north of Muskegon. Dora was devoted to caring for her children, and tried being there for them in every way she could. However, being a single mother became a lot harder for her when her kids became teenagers; some of them lived in foster care for a while, but eventually came home. After some time, Dora found love again with Franklin Neer, who was the uncle of a friend of her daughter. Dora and Frank dated for a while before being happily married on July 5, 1966, and then welcomed four more children into their family: Mark, Dennis, John and Brian. While Dora had her hands full being a homemaker and raising the kids, Frank worked at Fisher Steel in Muskegon. The family moved around the area a bit before putting down roots in a home on Ewing Road. As a couple, Dora and Frank were very sociable. They enjoyed getting together with their friends, and playing cards. When their son, Brian, lived out in California, they took a memorable trip out there to visit him. Late, when they became grandparents, Dora and Frank loved babysitting their grandkids, and getting a good board game going together. Family was always first in Doras heart, and she enjoyed every moment they shared together. When it came to Doras leisure time, she enjoyed reading, particularly Zane Grey books as well as westerns and romance novels. She liked to tease her brain doing crossword puzzles and playing solitaire. In her younger days, Dora became a big fan of wrestling, and could often be heard yelling at the TV while watching Big Time Wrestling. Sadly, Dora lost her beloved husband, Franklin, in 2003, after 37 years of marriage. It wasnt long before her own health began to decline, and her children came as often as they could to help her out. However, when Dora needed more constant care, she moved to DeBoer Nursing Home, where her family continued to visit her regularly. Soon, she began showing signs of Alzheimers and her memory started fading. Dora passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2011, at the age of 81. A cherished wife, mother and grandmother, Dora will be greatly missed and remembered always. Dora is survived by her sons, Tom (Jackie) Fitzgerald of Lansing, Mark (Debbie) Fitzgerald of New Era, Dennis (Bobbi) Neer of Muskegon, John (Darlene) Neer of N. Muskegon, Brian (Sayuri) Neer of CA; daughters, Valentina Smith of TX, Elaine Wright of Ravenna, Pam (Mike) Lacht of Ravenna; 20 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; many nieces & nephews; former husband, George Fitzgerald. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Franklin. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 10, at 1:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel of Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon with Rev. Ken Shady officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 9, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral - Muskegon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Please visit Doras personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you may share a memory or sign her online guest book.