Doris Clara Dorman Bailey, 104, passed away on Aug. 29, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born on Oct. 15, 1919, in Baltimore, Maryland, third daughter to Otto and Sophia Dorman.
Doris graduated from Eastern High School at the age of 15 after skipping grades three and six, never missing a day of school. After graduation, she volunteered at John Hopkins Hospital and attended Baltimore Business College at night. She eventually became the private secretary to Dr. Harry Eagle, who, at that time, became famous for finding cures for syphilis, gonorrhea and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).
Doris was a member of Job’s Daughters, a branch of the Masons, and was an excellent seamstress. She loved to travel with her sisters, though the time they spent on a cruise ship caught in a hurricane while coming back from Cuba was most memorable!
Doris also loved to dance to the big band sound. While at a dance one evening in Baltimore, she met the love of her life, her soon-to-be husband, Fred. He came from Auburn, Maine, and graduated first in his class from Bates College with a degree in chemistry, followed by a year at Harvard. He was stationed at Aberdeen, Maryland, in bomb disposal.
After marriage in 1942, Fred got a job as a chemist with Lever Bros., which sent them to Chicago, Illinois; Melrose, Massachusetts; and then Darien, Connecticut, where he commuted by train to New York City for 25 years.
They raised three lovely daughters — Susan, Barbara, and Joyce — and spent time each summer at the family cottage on Orr’s Island, Maine. While in Connecticut, Doris volunteered 20 consecutive years with the American Red Cross. She also worked as a church secretary first, then processed and cataloged new books and audiovisual materials for all of the school libraries in the Darien Public School System for many years.
Following Fred’s death in 1984, Doris rekindled her love of travel and traveled abroad to 27 countries on Collette tours with her sister or a good friend. She also visited the U.S. national parks and Hawaii twice. In 2005, she moved from Connecticut to The Highlands in Topsham, Maine, to be closer to her three daughters, who lived in the area.
Each December, Doris took great joy in lighting the pine tree in her front yard with bright Christmas lights, to the delight of all, until it grew too tall for even a cherry picker to reach! Doris was an avid bridge player and knitter, and loved to create holiday ornaments. Even after moving into the “Lodge” in 2017, she continued crafting and playing bridge as often as she could. She also would complete the Times Record crossword puzzles each evening. She took great delight in showing her friends and neighbors her Christmas tree, decorated with over 300 handmade ornaments each year. Doris’ smile will be sorely missed.
Doris is survived by her three daughters, Susan Bailey, of Southport, North Carolina, Barbara McGowen, of Orr’s Island, Maine, and Indian Harbor Beach, Florida, and Joyce Duda, of Harpswell, Maine; two sons-in-law, Jay McGowen and Len Duda; three grandchildren and their spouses, Kate (Miles) Wing, David (Jackie) Duda, and Steven (Darcy) Duda; and three great-grandchildren, Sawyer Blodget, Tessa Wing, and Katharine Duda.
Doris’ family would like to thank the staff at The Highlands for their care and support over the 19 years Doris lived there.
There will be a community service at The Highlands at a later date. A private family graveside service will occur later this fall.
At Doris’ request, memorial donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, 375 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 or mymsaa.org.To offer condolences and share caring memories, please visit brackettfh.com to view Doris’ online memorial.
