Obituary of Doris Russell
Doris Bray was born on December 23, 1936, in Claiborne County, Tennessee. She was one of four children born to the union of Nelson Bray and Mae (Bolton) Bray. Doris attended Monroe High School, graduating with the class of 1955.
On December 31, 1955, Doris married the love of her life, Mr. Milton Russell and together the couple were blessed with four children. To help provide for her family, Doris was employed more than twenty-two years in production as an inspector for the Ford Motor Company at their Rawsonville Plant before taking a medical retirement.
Doris loved spending time outdoors in her garden; weeding, watering, and pruning her flowers and vegetables. In her early years she was very artistic with a gift for drawing, she designed the cover for the high school swim team program. Doris was also a very talented seamstress. She loved to sew, quilt, and crochet. She often made her family and grandchildren handmade quilts and pillowcases. Above all her accomplishments in this life, Doris was probably best known for her generous spirit and for being a wonderful mother and grandmother. She loved spoiling her eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
Doris Russell, age 86 of LaSalle, Michigan passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday; November 21, 2023, surrounded by her loving family and under the care of the ProMedica Heartland Hospice. Her passing was preceded by her parents: Nelson and Mae Bray; her husband: Milton on April 6, 1995; a daughter: Cheryl Collins; a sister and brother-in-law: Ann and Ben Dozier; her brother and sister-in-law: Dan and Mary Bray; and her nephew: Rick Dozier.
To cherish her memory she leaves three sons: Steven (Sandra) Russell of Monroe, Michigan, Ronald (Elizabeth) Russell of Fraser, Michigan, and Richard (Kalleen) Russell of LaSalle, Michigan; eleven grandchildren: Scott (June) Russell, Jason (Alice) Russell, Renee (Travis) Larkin, Erika Russell, Phillip McIntosh, Travis (Anisa) Russell, John (Shelby) Collins, Jessica (Ben) Stadler, Robert Collins, Erin (Andrew) Dewimille, and Adam Russell; and fourteen great grandchildren.
Friends may gather from 10:00am until 12:00pm on Monday; November 27, 2023, at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48161 (734) 241-7070. A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 12:00pm also at Merkle’s with Pastor BJ McDaniel of One Way Christian Fellowship Church officiating. Private burial will take place at Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle Township, Michigan.
For those desiring, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Parkinson Foundation or to ProMedica Heartland Hospice. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.