Obituary of Doris T. Brown

Doris T. Brown of Bethel, NY passed away peacefully at the age of 103 on August 23, 2021 with her daughter Marie at her side. Doris was born in Woodbourne, NY to William and Ladensie Todd on February 7, 1918. She married Ford Brown on February 19, 1944 at the White Lake Presbyterian Church in Bethel. Doris was a 1937 graduate of the New Paltz Normal School (now SUNY New Paltz). She began her teaching career at the one room schoolhouse on Michigan Road in Woodbourne, New York. When it closed, she taught for five years at the Hasbrouck, NY school, followed by five years at the White Lake Union Free School. After having her children she resumed her teaching career at the Hebrew Day School in Kiamesha Lake from which she eventually retired. Doris was a longtime member of the White Lake Presbyterian Church and the Bethel Presbyterian Ladies Guild. In July 1940, at the age of 22, Doris set off cross country with her mother, sister, cousin and two friends driving in a car with, of course, no air conditioning and no GPS. They went by the northern route and returned by the southern route visiting eight national parks and multiple other highlights along the way. At times they drove by night and slept during the day to escape the head of the desert. They logged nine thousand miles in five weeks and had quite an adventure. Doris is survived by her two daughters, Janet Huen of Raleigh, NC, and Marie (Michael) Fox of White Lake, NY, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren all of whom have fond memories of a homemade "Grandma roll" as a much-anticipated part of every holiday meal. Doris was predeceased by her husband Ford in 1992 ad a sister Virginia Todd Anderson in 1973. We wish to thank the Garnet Health Medical Center-Catskills Skill Nursing Unit for the extraordinary care they gave to Doris in her last years. A private service was held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel, NY. Memorial donations may be made to the For Faith Parish, c/o Earl Bertsch, 158 Bertsch Lane, Cochecton, NY 12726.