Doadie Cramer

Doadie was the first to celebrate other peoples' successes, offer a bit of laughter, or lend a listening ear. Sharing a conversation, or even a glance, with her made you feel individual and extraordinary. With Doadie you knew, immediately, that you were safe, and welcome, and at home.

Dora Belle made her entrance into the world on December 8, 1934, in a rather unusual way: her mother gave birth in a boxcar where the family lived while her father worked for the railroad in Moorcroft, Wyoming. Perhaps it was fitting that little Doadie arrived this way, as it was the first of many things that made her stand out. Doadie became the youngest of five children born to Dorothy and Rheo Nicolen. Unfortunately, the couple separated when Doadie was just two years old.

Their parents' separation meant that all of the Nicolen siblings had to help out a bit more around the house, and sacrifice some of their carefree childhood for the benefit of the family. No one understood this better than Marna, the oldest of the five. She took over many of the daily responsibilities. It was also she who nursed Doadie back to health when she, as a young girl, became very sick with Infintigo.

While Marna tended to her siblings and the house, Rheo Nicolen made ends meet for his family by working as a janitor for the local school system. Each morning he would help Marna get the kids dressed, fed and ready for school, then they would all walk to school together. Rheo eventually hired a housekeeper, a woman by the name of Ethel Bear. She was kind to the children and came as a welcome presence to all of them, especially Marna. Ethel fell in love with the Nicolen family, and she and Rheo eventually married. Ethel naturally became the mother figure to Doadie, and Doadie herself admitted that she couldn't have asked for a better, more nurturing caregiver.

Moorcroft, Wyoming, was a small country town miles away from a big city. As a teenager Doadie would often drive around with her friends like teenagers do, but with one small difference: they would go from one end of town to the other in no more than a couple of minutes. The highlight of every two-minute trip-the thing that couldn't be missed-was driving in a circle around the flagpole. Even later in life when Doadie took her children to Moorcroft for a visit, she insisted that they drive around the flagpole at least once. (They even did it in Lawton and "pretended" there was a flagpole.) Besides driving around town, young Doadie enjoyed going to the Rodeo with her brothers, sisters, father, and stepmother. They attended regularly, making time, too, for family picnics at Devils Tower in the park where they could sit and watch the prairie dogs scamper.

When Doadie was about 17 years old, she decided to follow her father to Michigan. He moved to Lawton to take a job at Eaton Fuller, and Doadie (being the last of her siblings left at home) went with him and started her final year of high school. Right away she became friends with a girl named Evon Sanders. It was the start of a life long friendship. Evon wasted no time introducing Doadie to a young man who worked for her father: Ernest (or Ernie) Cramer. Of course, Ernie had already noticed Doadie, the cute new girl in school. "I especially liked the way she looked in a pair of blue jeans," Ernie would say. Ernie and Doadie began dating, fell madly in love, and couldn't wait to get married. They decided as soon as Doadie graduated, they would.

Ernie and Doadie married at the Sander's home, as Evon's parents (Earl and Bonnie Sanders) had become like surrogate parents to Doadie. Following the beautiful ceremony, there was a big reception held in the back yard. Family and friends filled the yard. The laughter and storytelling went on well into the night. For their honeymoon, Ernie and Doadie decided on something simple, but romantic. They took off for a weekend alone.

As a start to their married life, Ernie and Doadie took up residence in a trailer located on Ernie's parents' property. Of course, they soon grew tired of the cramped quarters and decided to sell that home and build a home of their own. Oddly enough, their new place was going to be built from materials that came from a home in Kalamazoo. While the walls and cabinets and doors went up, the couple lived in basement. Doadie made the space feel as homey and comfortable as it could, but it certainly came as a welcome relief when they could settle into their new home, a place that would be theirs for the rest of their lives.

No couple enjoyed themselves more than Doadie and Ernie. They loved going out together and dancing. Doadie, to her credit, actually taught Ernie to dance. They were really were a treat to watch, especially when they would Jitterbug- Wyoming style-across the dance floor. Ernie would spin Doadie under his arm, behind his back and swing her around. He made it all look like a piece of cake, of course, but everyone knew better. Friends were always in awe of Doadie and Ernie, and they loved the laughter and fun they brought to everything.

It wasn't long before Doadie and Ernie started a family. Sandra came first, followed by a baby Rodney. Ernie worked full time as a machinist and part-time for his friend and mentor Earl Sanders in the Well Drilling business. Doadie stayed home with the children and eagerly took on the role of mother. She excelled at it. Always making sure her family was well cared for was something that came naturally for Doadie. She and Ernie never had a lot of money, but their home was always neat and tidy, and full of laughter and love.

Doadie made sure her home was open to all of Sandie and Rod's friends or any other kid that might like to hang around. She was a great cook, too, so there was always something sitting, waiting to be eaten. Every event her kids were involved in, Doadie was involved in as well. Whether it was ballet or baton lessons, basketball practice or games, Doadie was there, cheering the loudest of anyone, encouraging her children to discover and explore the world around them.

As a family Doadie, Ernie, and the children enjoyed camping and went on many camping trips with the Slevatz family. One very memorable time, everyone came home with terrible sunburns especially Evon's forehead and Rod's bottom! At home, Doadie thought TV was a waste of time. She would, however, enjoy watching Red Skeleton or Jackie Gleason with her family, and would let her kids watch a few cartoons. On Sundays Doadie taught Sunday school, and was her children's teacher at St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Lawton. Doadie practiced her Christian beliefs everyday, making them an integral part of the way she lived her life and raised her family.

When her daughter Sandie grew older, Doadie loved going shopping with her for every special dress needed for each special occasion. Once, Sandie needed an extra special dress: she was passing on the "Miss Lawton" crown. Of course, Sandie ended up falling in love with a dress that was $100-a price well over Doadie's budget. But Doadie couldn't resist. Her daughter looked so beautiful in the gown that she bought it. As they were driving home, Doadie whispered to Sandie, "Let's not tell your dad how much it cost!"

After her children graduated high school, Doadie went to work at the local grocery store, Rich's. She remained there, as a cashier and in the meat department. In the late 1970's Ernie and Doadie moved to Kaycee, Wyoming where Ernie drove a truck and Doadie spent time with her family after all the years in Michigan. She had Bible study classes and "Tops" meetings in their neat little house. She learned from her sisters, mother and nieces how to make "quilted" blankets and crochet. This is a hobby she continued when they moved back to Michigan after their first 2 grandchildren were born. She returned to work at Rich's and began one of the favorite parts of her life - being a Grandma! She enjoyed decorating her home for each holiday and having all the grandkids running around. Grandma and Grandma especially liked their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Doadie would even crochet baby ducks that "delivered" jelly bean eggs and small elaborate eggs that contained candy and gifts. Each grandchild has at least one of Doadie's beautiful homemade blankets and afghans to wrap up in. As gifts for their grandma, her grandchildren (and friends and family) often gave Doadie tins, baskets and coffee cups to add to her current collections.

Doadie knew the importance of family and friends. What mattered to her, in her life, was not any one possession, but rather, the happiness brought by people, laughter, and possibilities. Doadie's smile, and the warmth it made everyone feel, will always be remembered.

On January 18, 2006 Angels gently carried Dora Belle (Doadie) Cramer, age 71, of Lawton , to Heaven to be with her Lord. She was born December 8, 1934 the daughter of Rheo and Dorothy Nicolen. Friends may spend time with the Cramer family Monday from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw, 657-3870, where a Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday 3:00 PM, Reverend Ron Packer of the First Christian Church of Paw Paw Officiating. Cremation has taken place. Doadie was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters; June, Jean, Karen, and a brother John. Doadie was united in marriage in 1954 with Ernest Cramer, who survives. She is also survived by a daughter: Sandra (David) Wright of Jenison, a son Rodney Cramer of Lawton, seven grandchildren; a sister: Marna Eidel of Kaycee, WY, a brother Les Nicolen of Phoenix, AZ, many special friends and several nieces and nephews. To read Doadie's complete Life Story, archive a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com