Doris (Oatley) VanEpps

EPPS (Oatley) Doris E. VanEpps, age 82, passed away February 14, 2008, at Kent Community Campus in Grand Rapids, MI. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. Known to many as "Dutch", she will always be remembered for her endless generousity, and willingness to help in anyway that was needed. Although she left high school to work, at the age of 71, she completed her high school education and received her diploma from Inland Lakes High School. She worked for many years at Munson Hospital in Traverse City as a cook and nurse aid. She wore many hats in the working world, and was always busy. She left Traverse City in 1972 to move to Detroit. She again began working in hospital kitchens and later in restaurants as a cook. In 1976, she began caring for a family of four young men, keeping a promise to a friend to care for his children at the time of his death. These four boys soon became "her boys". They were soon like family and cared for her as much as she did for them. She remained with them until 2003. It was then, due to failing health, she moved to Grand Rapids, to Kent Community, to retire from her long working life. Doris was proceeded in death by a daughter; two husbands, Charles Eckerdt and Harley VanEpps; her parents, Carl and Bess Oatley; also her son-in-law, Robert Gillingham; and daughter-in-law, Bernie Eckerdt. Left to miss her are her children, Don Eckerdt of Ocala, FL, and Dorothy VanEpps-Gillingham of Grand Rapids, MI; her five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Charlotte (Pat) Nardizzi of Indian River, Jack (Patty) Oatley of FL, Carl (Inez) Oatley Jr. of FL, Virginia (Virgil) Ritondale of TN, and Richard (Helen) Oatley of Traverse City; also "her boys", the Nagy boys, Louis, John, Frank and Jim, of Detroit. The family would like to thank the staff of Kent Community Hospital for their loving care and support during her stay with them. A memorial service will be held in the spring at Old Mission. ARSULOWICZ BROTHERS, WEST MORTUARY www.arsulowiczbrothers.com