Doris Marie Oliver

Doris Marie (given name, Doris Mae) Oliver was born in Burlington, North Carolina, on September 24th, 1924, to her parents, Thomas and Eva Lyon. She was the third born of four children, Thomas Lyon Jr, Katherine Moore and James Lyon.

At the age of 22, Doris met her lifelong love, Gilbert R. Oliver Jr., on a blind date. After only three dates, Gilbert left to serve in WW2. Over the next eight months Doris and Gil fell in love by writing over 250 letters to each other. When Gilbert returned, they got married 6 months later on January 1st, 1946. They were married for 72-1/2 years when Gilbert passed away on June 3rd, 2018.

Once married, Doris and Gil moved to Gilbert’s hometown of Gloucester, Massachusetts, where they had their first three daughters, Judith Ann Trumbower, 78, Cynthia Louise Peterson, 75, and Deborah Elaine Oliver who passed away on November 5th, 2013, at the age of 61.

In 1958 they packed up and moved from Gloucester, Massachusetts to San Diego, California, where they bought their forever home, and where their last two daughters were born, Theresa Marie Roberts, 67 and Karen Sue Darisay, 61.

Doris loved her primary roles as Wife, Mother, Nana, Great Nana, and Great-Great Nana. Family gatherings and babies were the highlights of her life, as were her retirement years with her love, Gilbert, enjoying their RV, reading novels and spending time with friends. Doris and Gil were blessed to be able to visit their children and grandchildren (from one coast to another), where they made several trips a year into their 80’s. Doris loved nature and adventure into the mountains as much as she could with Gil and their girls. She was a very creative woman who loved to sew, paint and spend time gardening.

Doris was 5 years old when the great depression era began, and her mother had to find work. Her father died when she was just 16 years old. She was no stranger to hardship and loss at an early age, which developed her independent, adventurous spirit. She was still independent and spunky into her 90’s. She could laugh as hard as she cried with you and her faith in Jesus was evident to all. She would faithfully pray for each of her children, grandchildren, and her great grands by name. She praised her Savior all day long, especially in her later years. She would often proclaim the Goodness of her God, even after experiencing breast cancer, the loss of her beloved daughter Debba, and her lifelong love Gil. She finally got to join them in eternity (just 3 months shy of turning 100 years old!). What a reunion that must have been! In the final 6 years of her life, she moved to Kentucky to live with her daughter Cindy and son in law Bob, where she was able to enjoy the beauty of nature all around her and be cared for by family who loved her until she left for heaven.

Doris is survived by four out of her five daughters, Judy, Cindy, Terri and Karen, along with their husbands, Glenn Trumbower, Robert Peterson, John Roberts, and Brian Darisay. Her deceased daughter Debby’s husband, Rapheal Oliver II also preceded Doris in death. Doris is also survived by her 11 grandchildren and spouses, Wayne and Kimberly Booth, Jennifer Trumbower, Scott Peterson, Steve and Nina Gordon, Raphael Oliver III, Gilbert, Oliver III, Christina and Jeff Barnard, Joseph Roberts, Rebecca and Joe Mazzie, Joshua and Katelyn Darisay, and Isabella Darisay. In addition, she is survived by her 22 great grandchildren and their spouses, Olivia Booth, Jackson Booth, Paul Agrillo IV, Grace Agrillo, Isabel and Nathan Vermillion, Ivy and Caleb Smith, Autum Peterson, Brooklyn and Delilah Gordon, Scarlett and Cordelia Oliver, Natalie and Moon David, Justin and Sofia Albers, Kendle, Brenden and Jackson Barnard, Isabella, Hannah, and America Roberts, Tula, Harper and Wren Mazzie. Doris had one great-great granddaughter, Luna David, who was born three months after Doris passed away. To her family’s delight, baby Luna shares Doris’ birthdate ~ September 24th (with only a few minutes to spare nearing midnight)! Doris would have been tickled (her word) to know that! There is currently one more Great, Great Granddaughter to be born soon, Alora Rose Albers. It is not surprising that this baby will be another girl! The girl chromosome sure runs strong in the Oliver clan!!