Doris Maple

Doris Alberta Maple was a devoted woman who worked hard for her family all her life and reaped the benefit of their love and respect. She was thoughtful and kind, caring and attentive. Such qualities made her the cherished parent, conscientious professional and considerate friend that she was. In simple and profound ways, Doris life was rich with faith, hope and love. Born July 4, 1924 in Hoxeyville, Michigan, just southwest of Cadillac, Doris was the youngest of 11 children, four of whom survived into adulthood, due to childhood illnesses. George Frank and Nettie (Luttrell) Wait raised their family during the harsh years of the First World War. The economic depression that closed out the 1920s also shaped the character of its citizens, who valued hard work, simple lifestyle and family loyalty. Born on Americas Independence Day, Doris lived a typical small-town, farm-family, game-trapping childhood. During deer hunting season, the Wait kitchen table expanded to welcome hunters who rented rooms in their big farm house. Young Doris grew up doing farm chores and often rode a horse-drawn wagon to school. When she graduated from Hoxeyville High School, she was one of nine students who received their diplomas. Yet Doris was big on talent. She learned to play the piano, showed real talent in art with her drawings and won contests for her penmanship. Little did she know that the latter skill would figure prominently toward her future. At the encouragement from a former teacher, Doris became pen pals with a young soldier from Colorado. Jared Gieske was serving in the European Theater with the U.S Army during WWII. Over the years of writing letters, the two fell in love and wanted to marry. It was when Jared was home on leave that he and Doris made their vows of marriage in St. Francis, Kansas on June 29, 1944. Only after the war were they able to settle into life as husband and wife. Doris and Jared first lived in Kansas and then Colorado for a time before making their home in Michigan. Crockery Township, near Grand Haven, became the birthplace of their three children: daughter Gwen, born in 1949, sons Jared Jr. in 1951 and Jeff in 1953. However, after eleven years of marriage, the relationship ended and Doris moved with the children to the Hoxeyville area to be closer to her relatives. Doris new life started in a tiny trailer and at Holly Carburetor, where she worked for a time before attending Cadillac Mercy Hospital Nursing School. She earned an LPN degree and took a job at Muskegons Hackley Hospital in 1960. She moved the family to Muskegon and eventually settled in Sullivan Township on the east side of town. Over the 26 years with the hospital, Doris worked full time yet always put her family first. Life changed once more when Doris started dating an old friend, Tom Clark, who was also a single parent. They married and blended their families over the five years that the marriage lasted. Shortly after the divorce, Doris married Marvin Atherton, who was a patient of hers. She took wonderful care of him, but his advanced illness led to his death just five months after their marriage. Not one to be alone, Doris answered a personal ad in the newspaper and ended up meeting John Maple. The two dated for a time, fell in love and were married on Christmas Eve 1976. Doris retired in 1986 and in 1989, she and John moved to Robinson Township in Grand Haven. They had 25 years together before John died in 2001, and Doris continued to live there on her own. Contented in her home with her dogs and cats, Doris liked the serenity of sitting on her patio at night and feeding the birds during the day. She was happiest when she was working in her garden. The variety of flowers offered lovely colors and rich smells. She had learned to grow her own popcorn so she could make a unique treat for her children. A bowl of popcorn with milk poured overtop became a Doris specialty that her kids still love to this day. Because of her upbringing during the Depression, Doris learned to be very thrifty. She saved pie tins, plastic bags, newspapers and other items, just in case they could be used later. She always took good care of her belongings to make sure they lasted a long time. Still, when it came to family, Doris splurged on love and attention. As a long time member of Sullivan Community Church and later Robinson Baptist Church, she made sure her children attended Sunday school, and into adulthood, the bond grew between mother and kids as they spent time together. They took fun trips to various tourist attractions around Michigan, and especially memorable was her stay on Mackinac Island at the historic Grand Hotel with her daughter Gwen. Doris was the kind of person who knew the value of written communication, from the days when she wrote letters during the war to sending greeting cards on holidays and special occasions. Her cards were amazing and always well received. She managed to craft just the right words to loved ones, and her (award-winning) handwriting had an artful flair that delighted her lifelong friends. With the onset of Alzheimers disease, many of Doris activities were curtailed, and in 2012 she moved into Assisted Living at Robbinswood. She was comfortable there, but the years took their toll and her body grew weak. Mrs. Doris A. Maple, age 89 of Grand Haven, Michigan, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. She will be missed and lovingly remembered by the family who holds her close. They include her daughter, Gwen (Garnet) Steadman of Grand Haven; sons, Jared (Linda) Gieske Jr. of Fruitport, Jeff (Nancy) Gieske of Spring Lake; 2 stepchildren; 6 grandchildren, Joshua (Julie) Gieske, Tessa (Charles) Grabinski, Matthew Gieske, Kevin Gieske, Doris "Dee" (Kevin) Lucas, Art (Amanda) Steadman; 10 great grandchildren; her very special kitties, John Wayne and Alfie; special friend, Rose. She was preceded in death by her husbands, John E. Maple in 2001, Thomas Clark and Marvin Atherton; her parents; 10 brothers and sisters; and 1 stepdaughter. A service to celebrate Doris life will be held Monday, April 28, 2014, 1:00 PM with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Clock Chapel-Grand Haven with Pastor Mark Cosgrove officiating. Interment at Sullivan Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Harbor Humane Society or Hospice of North Ottawa. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.