Doris Blackmun

Doris Jean “Dorie” Blackmun, age 89, of Niles, Michigan, died on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the Cass County Medical Care Facility in Cassopolis, Michigan. She was born November 16, 1925 in Buchanan to Beryl and Margaret (Tichenor) Harrington.

Dorie worked for the former First National Bank of Niles, retiring after many years of service. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles where she sang in the choir and played the organ and hand bells. She volunteered her time at Lakeland Community Hospital and with the local Meals on Wheels program.

On January 1, 1949 in Niles, Dorie married William H. Blackmun. He preceded her death on September 1, 2008, after 59 years of marriage. Dorie was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Prestine, and by a brother, Jack Harrington.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Linda (& Tom) Frey of Sunman, Indiana, and Judie (& Pat) Quinn of Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren, Taryn (& Kurt) Bullis and Jill (& Michael) Besley, all of Madison, Wisconsin, Stephanie Quinn of Lansing and Neil (& Leandra) Quinn of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Dorie is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Juniper Bullis, Genevieve Bullis, Eliza Besley, John Besley and Brielle Quinn.

Funeral services for Doris Jean Blackmun will be held at Noon on Friday, January 2, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating and assisted by the Rev. Neil Quinn of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Roselle, Illinois. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Donations in memory of Dorie may be made to the First Presbyterian Church’s Music Program.

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