Doris Ferris

Doris Leona Bassage Ferris was born in Sayre, PA on May 18, 1926 to Albert and Leona Bassage. She graduated from Athens, PA High School as Salutatorian in 1944. In September 1944 she entered nurses training at the Robert Packer Nursing School in Sayre, PA graduating with an RN degree in 1947. She married Duane E. Ferris on June 12, 1948. They had 4 boys born in different states, David in Pennsylvania, James in Iowa, Paul and Mark born in Missouri. She began her nursing career in 1952 and worked in hospitals in Iowa, Missouri and Michigan, while her husband served as pastor in nearby Presbyterian Churches. She helped open the ICU in what was then Little Traverse Hospital in Petoskey. She spent a year in Des Moines, Iowa in 1972-1973 where she worked in the cardiac service at Mercy Hospital. In 1973 she was seriously injured in an auto accident from which she never fully recovered. She then moved to New Jersey where she worked in the ICU and Cardiac services of Morristown Memorial Hospital until she retired in 1989. In retirement she moved to a home on Clam River in Antrim County, Michigan. She helped establish North Country Hospice, serving on the Hospice Board and volunteering as a nurse. She lived on the river until moving to Traverse City in the summer of 2013. She moved with her husband to Hope Village in July 2014. After her most recent hospitalization she returned to Hope Village under the care of Munson's Hospice. She died there in comfort on Thursday, August 4. She is survived by her husband, children David (Toni) Ferris of Acme, James (Laura) Ferris of Marquette, Paul (Debi) Ferris of Richmond, California, and Mark (Maxine) Ferris of Traverse City, 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 11, at 1 pm at Church In The Hills, Bellaire, with Pastor David Ramage officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Munson Hospice, 1105 6th St., Traverse City, MI 49684 or Samaritas Senior Living, 4354 Mount Hope Rd, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Funeral arrangements are being provided by the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Home. Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.