Doris Cornell

Doris Cornell was a delightful woman with an insatiable zest for life that was contagious to all those around her. She lived an active life playing golf and tennis, skiing, and bowling too - well into her later years. Although Doris traveled all over the world, her favorite place to be was wherever her family was gathered, surrounded by the laughter and love that was an outpouring of a love story that spanned more than fifty years. It all began during a time in our nations history when life was difficult for many American families. These were the years of the Great Depression the unemployment rate had skyrocketed to twenty-five percent, the average annual salary was just over $1300, and people were left to find fun in simple things like reading, watching movies on the silver screen, and taking in a baseball game. As the new year began in 1931, Dominic and Pearl (Stamp) Hogston, of Muskegon Heights, Michigan, were looking forward to the birth of their third child. They were indeed blessed on February 18th of that year with their daughter, Doris Evelyn, who was born prematurely. Doris immediately faced health challenges with her early arrival and spent much of her time sleeping in a box behind the stove in order to keep warm. Her father walked to his job as a tool and die maker at Bennett Pump each day since their family had no car, while Doriss mother was a homemaker. It wasnt long before Doris was tagging along after her older brother Robert and older sister Maxine, her health struggles no longer an issue. Doris turned out to be quite the tomboy whose brother taught her to catch and throw. She attended Muskegon Heights Schools and her family also attended Temple United Methodist Church. Like so many other young people during this generation, Doris began working while she was still in high school, finding employment at a drug store in her hometown. During school she excelled in secretarial skills and after she graduated from high school in 1949, Doris got a job in the school superintendants office. Also during this time, Doris attended a dance at Schillers Barn in Whitehall one fateful evening in 1951. There she met a charming young man who was in Junior College and also in the Naval Reserves. His name was Richard Dick Cornell and they were quickly smitten with each other. They dated for a time, Dick even taught Doris how to drive his car, and as the days turned into weeks and months, they had fallen hopelessly in love. Dick was on active duty when they married on July 3, 1954, the newlyweds then moving to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was stationed. After two years, the couple returned to Michigan where they settled into the married housing barracks at Michigan State University while Dick studied for an engineering degree. A short time later, the couple welcomed twin daughters, Karen and Kathy, who were born in 1957. After Dick completed college, the young family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where their son Rick joined their family in 1960. The couple moved to Muskegon after two years in Illinois, eventually settling on Maryland in Norton Shores, where Doris would remain throughout the rest of her life. As a mother, Doris was attentive and involved, serving as a room mother, Brownie leader, and attending her childrens various activities too. They were a close family and made numerous memories together on vacations over the years. They drove out to the eastern seaboard to visit sites that included Mystic Seaport and Gettysburg National Park. They later took a western trip that included Yellowstone National Park and the Badlands. For spring break each year, they often went to the Florida Keys. The Cornell family spent part of several summers at a cottage on Big Blue Lake, located in Muskegon, where the laughter and fun times abounded. At times, their family also stayed closer to home, but took up activities that they all enjoyed. On Sunday nights they went skating together at the Walker Arena, and then later took up snow skiing as a family as well. They spent many weekends in both Traverse City and Cadillac where they joined other family friends on the slopes. In addition to her roles as a wife and mother, Doris also entered the work force when Rick was in Junior High. She got a job at the Muskegon Travel Agency and then later took a job as the secretary in the transportation department for Mona Shores Schools where she worked for 15 years before retiring in 1995. There were a variety of additional interests that Doris pursued when she had time. She had a great set of lady friends and played tennis, golf, bowled, and often played in a bridge club. She was also an active member at Lake Harbor United Methodist Church and served on the Memorial Committee. When her children were grown, Doris and Dick took skiing trips to Colorado with other couples, and they also loved traveling to new and exciting places. They visited Hawaii, Europe, went on cruises, and spent part of their winters in Panama Beach Florida after they both retired. Doris was a healthy and active person who exercised regularly and kept fit. She even completely overcame her battle with breast cancer at one time. Doris volunteered at Hackley Hospital, the Art Gallery Gift Shop, and at the Kitchen of Hope. One of Doriss greatest joys was when she became a grandmother. She adored her grandchildren and took care of them often. Doris was frequently found playing games with her grandchildren or reading them books. She was also their greatest fan - cheering them on from the sidelines of their sports activities, and she attended all of their music and dance performances as well. There were memorable sleepovers at grandmas house and her grandchildren will forever cherish the special one-on-one trips to Disney World with Doris too. Doris Cornell was an extraordinary woman who was completely dedicated to caring for those she held most dear, her beloved family. To Doris, life was not about a long list of accomplishments or droves of material possessions, but rather it was about creating a treasure chest full of countless memories and shaping the generations that would one day carry on her legacy. Doris was a fun-loving and compassionate woman who like a vibrant sunset painted across the sky, brought light and life to all those within her reach. She will be dearly missed and warmly remembered by all those she leaves behind. Doris E. Cornell died on Friday, July 17, 2009. Doriss family includes her husband of 55 years, Dick; son, Rick (Stacey) Cornell of Norton Shores; daughters, Karen (James) Grace of Norton Shores, Kathy Mahoney of CA; grandchildren, Matthew, Kathleen, Christopher, Isabel, Lauren, Trip; sister, Maxine Workman of Norton Shores; sister-in-law, Ruth Hogston. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 1:00 p.m. at Lake Harbor United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Erbes officiating. Internment at the Lake Harbor United Methodist Church Memorial Garden. Visit with the family, Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the church until the service begins. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Lake Harbor United Methodist Church.