Doris M. Newmyer

Doris Mae Newmyer was a loving wife, devoted mother, and faithful friend who enjoyed life and lived it fully. Doris was born in the decade of the Roaring Twenties when Flapper fashions invaded the social scene. Jazz was hot, Vaudeville was going strong, and the Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting on the radio. Charles Lindbergh made his historic transatlantic flight and women won the right to vote in a national election. In the fall of 1929, the stock market would crash, but earlier that year the DeYoung family couldn't have been happier. John and Mildred (Martin) DeYoung welcomed Doris Mae into their hearts and home on February 24, 1929. Doris was the third of four children (Henrietta, Betty and Richard "Dick") who grew up on Williams Street in Muskegon, Michigan. Their father was employed with C Railroad, and their mother worked at Grossman's department store after the children were grown. Doris' young life was filled with activities that formed a well-rounded childhood. At an early age, Doris showed mechanical skills that proved to be very handy. She wasn't afraid to pick up a wrench or any other tool. Often times, Doris puttered around fixing things with her maternal grandfather. She was also fond of riding horses and made frequent visits to Swanberg's farm in Grant, that continued later in life, with her husband and children on many a Sunday afternoon. Clarence and Dory Swanberg lived in Muskegon where they owned a grocery store. They were friends of the family and, when Doris was old enough to baby sit, she cared for the Swanbergs' children. During her years of schooling, Doris attended Angel School elementary and Muskegon High School through the 10th grade. Doris soon joined the work force and met her future. It was while Doris was working at Muskegon Ice Cream that a young soldier happened to stop. William "Bill" Newmyer, home on furlough from the Army, wasted no time putting the "moves" on Doris. That was the beginning of their romance. Bill was stationed in Indianapolis, but he hitchhiked back to Muskegon every weekend to see Doris! On one of those weekend furloughs in 1946, Bill proposed to Doris and the couple was engaged. However, he was sent to Germany in 1946 and served his country dutifully until his return in 1947. Then, on April 16, 1948, Doris and Bill were married amid much joy and laughter. As a practical joke, her brother, Dick, thinking he was placing Limburger cheese on the couple's car motor, mistakenly put it on the car that her parents and he would drive home. Even if the punch line wasn't so funny to her father, everyone was pleased to see Doris and Bill begin their new life together. For the next four decades, Doris and Bill devoted their lives to raising six children, Dave ('48) Sue ('51) Tom ('56), Kathy ('58), Ed ('60) and Scott ('65). Their children meant everything to them, and it showed. They spent a lot of time together, especially when the children were young and they could do what they loved, camping. They stayed almost every summer at Young, Interlochen, and Silver Lake State Parks and got to be real campers. However, the first time out, Doris brought many electric conveniences...only to find that they couldn't get into the section providing electricity. Those kinds of adventures were so much fun that subsequent trips were planned that way. Even when Doris and Bill "graduated" to a 14-foot travel trailer, the children who were still traveling with them had to stay in tents. The family remembers this well. Even though they later bought a cottage on Darlington Lake near Hesperia in 1975, the family's fondest memories were of camping. They also have fond memories of ice skating on the pond in the back yard. And they'll never forget the tumble that Dave took from a tree which landed him in Mercy Hospital at almost the same time as his mother gave birth to their third child, Tom.. Since Dave was only seven years old at the time, hospital rules prevented him from seeing his mother and his new baby brother until they returned home. Family was very important to Doris. Just ask those who came to call on her children in their dating years. Anyone who was a potential spouse was put under the greatest of scrutiny by Doris. But her growing family, which soon included grandchildren (20) and eventually great grandchildren (3), was the true joy of her life. Doris was dedicated to her family, yet she found time for hobbies and recreation. Her love of fishing was rivaled by her excellence in baking. Doris was such an expert cake decorator that folks said she should go into the business. Later in life, Doris became an avid collector of Precious Moments figurines and dolls. She was active with arts and crafts, was a frequent shopper in Shipshewana, Indiana and loved to stop at yard sales. She found it very difficult to turn down a bargain. She was often accompanied by her close friends, Lucille and Shirley. Once while returning from a ceramics class, they hit and killed a doe that was carrying two fawns. Through her sister, Betty, who worked at the Clock Funeral Home, Doris secured chemicals that preserved the fawns. Doris had a heart for animals. For many years, she bred and raised poodles and trimmed and groomed pets. Doris also drove school bus for Fruitport Schools in the late 60's and early 70's. It's no wonder that after her husband retired in 1988, Doris and Bill traveled extensively. She had been in "travel mode" for years. From 1977 to 1991, they visited Florida, Missouri, South Dakota, Arizona, Texas, California, Washington D.C., Nova Scotia, and Spain! Often times, their traveling companions were Doris' sister and brother in-law, Betty and Lyman Blink. While Doris treasured time with her family and friends, family and friends cherished Doris. Though she spent the last two years at Brookhaven Medical Care Facility, living with the challenges of Alzheimer's disease, Doris remains strong in the hearts of her family and friends, including the new friends she made at the nursing home. Doris Mae Newmyer went home to be with her Lord on March 2, 2006 and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her dearly.