Doris Ann Sears

Doris Ann Sears Born October 10, 1915 . Died September 27, 2012 . Doris lived her long life with eagerness, anticipation, love of adventure, love of family and friends, and a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Doris was born to Frederick Davis and Dora Baker Davis. She and her only sister, Jean, grew up in Roslyn, on Long Island , NY . She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1937. After college she took a job as assistant to the president of Spelman College in Atlanta , GA. During World War II, she moved to Washington D.C. and worked at the Office of Strategic Services, decoding telegrams. When the war ended, she returned to school, getting a degree in library science from Columbia University in New York . She moved to Baltimore , MD , when she got a job at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. At the Pratt Library she met Winthrop Sears, Jr, who became her husband and life companion. Win and Doris "moved West" to Michigan , when he entered graduate school at the University of Michigan . Doris worked in the government documents department of the Hatcher Graduate Library at U-M while Win was in school. Win found employment with the Ford Motor Company in the Ford Archives, so Doris and Win started their family in Detroit , with the birth of their daughters, Ann in 1952 and Deborah in 1954. They moved to Livonia in 1954, to the wonderful neighborhood of Rosedale Gardens . Win and Doris made treasured friendships in Rosedale Gardens , through the Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church and through the Rosedale Gardens schools. After her children were grown, Doris began another career working as an editor at Gale Research, publishers of library reference works in Detroit, from which she retired at age 75. She followed this with many years of volunteer work with the Friends of the Livonia Library. She worked diligently on their book sales and especially enjoyed the excursions for dessert afterward! Doris enjoyed travel and new experiences. She and Win traveled to England , Alaska , Virginia , all over the East Coast and up north in Michigan . At age 90, she attended her first hockey game at Joe Louis Arena. She followed baseball avidly and was thrilled to attend a game at Comerica Park . She loved to follow politics - she would interrupt a family vacation in the peace of the Upper Peninsula to watch presidential debates. In her 90s, she drank her first beer - and liked it! She loved going up north and hiking on the North Country Trail, using her walker. She greatly enjoyed a good meal with friends and family. We have many happy memories of holiday feasts, with Doris presiding at the head of the table. In her later years, Doris faced physical challenges after she broke her hip and had other surgery. We were fortunate to find Debbie Erhart, who helped her with errands, worked with her on building strength and endurance and helped her keep her active. With Debbie's help, Doris could keep on finding joy in simple things like going to the farmers' market in Northville and having a hot dog. She found joy in many things, including her garden, which had beautiful hostas, and her home-grown tomatoes. Think of her the next time you are gazing over Lake Michigan or Lake Superior , and think of her the next time you are gazing at a particularly good piece of pie! We thank doctors and nurses at St. Mary Mercy Hospital for their kindness and care over the years, especially Dr. Friedman, Dr. Naik, Dr. Narayan. We thank the pharmacy staff at Merriman Drugs for so many years of kind service. We especially thank Debbie Erhart for all she did to keep our mother active and strong. Doris is predeceased by her parents, her sister Jean Chapman, and her dear husband. She is survived by her daughters, Ann and Debby, her grandchildren, Michael Flowers and his wife, Leslie, and Jimmy Flowers. She is also survived by her nephew, Robert Chapman, by Michael and Jimmy's father, Chris Flowers, by Ann's partner Fred Ringia, and by a host of friends who viewed her zest for life as an inspiration. Doris , we love you and will carry your memory in our hearts forever. A Memorial Service will be held at Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church, 9601 Hubbard, Livonia, Monday at 2 p.m. Please share a memory of Doris in her guestbook. Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154