Doris Nuvill

Doris Nuvill was a woman cut of the warmest, kindest cloth, who always volunteered her time, her effort and her love. She was so many things to so many people a loving wife and mother, doting grandmother and great grandmother, a loyal friend and shoulder to lean on and a faithful Christian. But more than anything, Doris was a wonderful example of the good in people. The early 1920s were a collage of interesting events. There were power struggles in Russia, Babe Ruth was setting baseball records, and the first Miss America was crowned. But for most people, such happenings were nothing more than headlines in a newspaper. Their lives centered around raising their families and earning a living. This was the life of Schyler Ace St. John and his wife, Nellie Pearl (DeVreugd). The St. Johns owned a farm in a rural community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in the spring of 1920, they were expecting their second child. On March 18, 1920, they delighted in welcoming the birth of their daughter, Doris Jane. Doris grew up in a large family. She was the second of eight children: Elizabeth, Doris, Howard, Peter, Jenny, Jack, Connie and LaVina, and as one of the oldest, she did her fair share of teasing her younger siblings. Doriss parents provided very well for their family, so much so they were considered wealthy, yet known to be very generous too. Her father was a jack-of-all-trades and worked many different jobs in his lifetime, including as a farmer, a tailor, an overhead crane operator and also sold cemetery plots. Besides being a homemaker, her mother also worked as a skilled seamstress. When Doris was younger, she loved to dress up in all the beautiful clothes her mother made and finish her outfit off with one of her fathers homemade furs. Like many young girls of the time, Doris attended school through the tenth grade and then left to work full-time on their family farm. Since 1935, a Coast Guard festival had been held in Grand Haven to celebrate the U.S. Coast Guard and its ships. During these festivities, it also crowned a Miss Coast Guard, and for fun, Doris ran for this title one year. Then, one day while spending time in Grand Haven State Park, Doris met Robert Floyd Nuvill, and they began dating. The two fell hopelessly in love and were happily married on October 4, 1939, a day Doris treasured as one of the greatest in her life. The newlyweds made their first home together in Grand Haven, and over the next several years, they filled their hearts and home with the pride and joy of six children: Burt, Robert, Jennifer, Judy, David and Scott. For Doris, there wasnt anything more important to her than her children, and each of their births added yet another blessing to her life. For a while, she worked outside the home at Michigan Plastics, but soon quit so she could devote herself to the role of mother. Time together as a family was always important to Doris and Robert, and they took many opportunities to take their kids camping, have picnics and take enjoyable long trip travel. Along the way, Doris loved sharing stories from her childhood with her children. Later in life, when she was blessed with grandchildren, Doris loved to share the same stories with them. Her granddaughter, Julia, will especially cherish all the many long, funny, entertaining stories told by her Grandma Doris. For Doris, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life and always first in her heart. She made sure there wasnt a grandchild or great grandchild born without her being there, and she was usually the first one to welcome them home from the hospital. Doriss tremendous love for her children and grandchildren was always evident and she found great joy in them. One of her son Davids proud memories of his mother was the day she came to my retirement ceremony from the Navy. Although her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy in life, Doris looked proudly on the day she received her high school diploma after attending night school at Grand Haven High. She was the oldest in her class, seeing that she was in her 70s, but still just as proud! When Doris wasnt spending cherished moments with her family, she enjoyed the company of Toby and Tiger, who she called her two gay cats, and her dog, Teddy. She also enjoyed playing bingo with her special bingo friends. Doris was a longtime member of the Church of the Nazarene in Grand Haven. What gave Doris the greatest joy was sharing herself with her family and friends, offering them the most precious thing she possessed her time. It is a gift none of them will ever forget. Doris Jane Nuvill, age 88, died on Friday, May 23, 2008. She is survived by her 2 sons, David (Charlene) Nuvill of VA, and Scott (fianc, Ashley Jernigan) Nuvill of FL; very special caregiver & granddaughter, Julia Bonillas; 11 grandchildren: Brittney, Danielle, Greg, Mark, Brian, Dan, Dean, Christine (Mark), Ryan (Jennifer), Robby (Jamie) & Eric (Vicki); 17 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild; 2 sisters, Elizabeth (John) Makin of Grand Haven & Connie St. John of CA; former daughter-in-law, Pattie Nuvill. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert, in 1985; 2 daughters, Jennifer Nuvill & Judy Kriger; 2 sons, Burt & Robert Nuvill; 2 sisters, Jenny Calkins & LaVina Cook; 3 brothers, Peter, Howard and Jack St. John. Services for Doris will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene Grand Haven with Pastor Gary Reiss officiating. Interment at Lakeshore Cemetery, Grand Haven. Friends and relatives may meet with Doriss family on Wednesday, 1 hour prior to the service at Church of the Nazarene Grand Haven. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Nazarene Memorial Fund. Please visit Doris memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book. Arrangements by Clock Life Story Funeral Home Grand Haven.