Dolores Doherty

Dolores "Lorrie" E. Doherty, 84, of Battle Creek, Michigan, entered into the presence of Jesus, peacefully at home surrounded by family, on Wednesday evening June 16, 2021. Dolores was born December 15, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the late Ford H. and Margaret E. Wissink. Dolores grew up in Battle Creek, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. She married the late Thomas O. Lightbody, (ending in divorce) later marrying Patrick C. Doherty on June 26, 1971, they enjoyed 29 years of marriage before Patrick went to be with the Lord on November 25, 2000. Dolores worked at the Battle Creek Federal Center, Regional Medical Labs, and Retired from the State of Michigan Department of Social Services where she worked as a social worker. Dolores enjoyed many summers at their vacation lake property in Evart, MI, on Tiff Lake, where she spent her days watching the Loons with their babies on the water. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, learning the organ, dulcimer, and ukulele, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and cooking. She made the best fruit pies and pineapple upside down cakes. She had a passion for decorating celebration cakes for coworkers, friends, and even made her daughters wedding cakes. Dolores found great enjoyment in driving her class A motor home, traveling to the Upper Peninsula, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina with family and friends. She spent two weeks every summer in Evart, MI at the dulcimer music festival where she met and made many good friends, including Judy and Mike. They would coordinate every summer and try to be first in line to get camping spots across from each other. Dolores had a heart of gold especially towards animals, she had many animals over the years but her favorites were her 2 Mane Coon cats, Shadow and Po. She also had rescue Grey Hounds, Sadie and Hildie. Her most recent loves were Baxter, her dog and Snip, her cat. Dolores also Loved her many grandchildren; when her granddaughters, Angela and Samantha were living in Michigan she helped care for and nurture them until they moved to Florida. For the last 20 years she helped care for, nurture, and mentor her grandsons, Matthew and Marcus, in which they returned the Love, helping care for her during her last few days. One of Dolores' favorite things to do was to go to Big Boy for breakfast and have biscuits and gravy. She rarely missed a morning rain or snow. She started going by herself and over the years met wonderful women in which this developed into their own little Big Boy ladies group. Dolores is survived by her daughters, Kimberly Hunter (FL), Marjorie Taylor (VA), and Suzanne (Robert) Dowe (MI), step-daughter, Patricia (George) Langley (VA); grandchildren, Samantha Dishman, Matthew Dowe, Marcus Dowe, Patrick Martinez, Nicholas Martinez, Mitchell Martinez, Abbey Detweiller, Amanda Reinehr, and Bobby Stoots, as well as many great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and special friends, Verna Beach, Sue Johnson, and Joan Wagoner. Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick; daughter, Tamarah; her parents; brother, Burr; sister, Margaret; granddaughter, Angela Lind; and long time friend, Sandy. Per her wishes Dolores has been cremated and will be buried at a later date, with her husband Patrick, at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Please join the family for a Celebration of Lorrie's Life on July 31, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at Family Altar Chapel, 14844 6 1/2 Mile Road, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014, with Pastor Travis Davis officiating. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Hospice of Southwest Michigan for their care and compassion throughout this difficult time. In lieu of flowers donations may be given in Dolores' name to the Humane Society of South Central Michigan, or Companion Cats Inc. (cat rescue) Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dolores Doherty, please visit our flower store.