Doris Marie Gemmel

Doris Marie Gemmel, 81, of Austintown, formerly Nova and Salem, Ohio, passed away Monday morning, Aug. 19, 2019, at Humility House in Austintown, and Doris’ family thanks the staff at the facility and with Hospice of the Valley for her care.

She was born April 22, 1938, in Ruggles, Ashland County, to Dorwin Griffin and Nellie Mae Rogers. Doris graduated from Nova Ruggles Troy High School in 1956, and worked at the roadside stand of her parents’ farm, selling produce.

In 1961, Doris  married Charles Gemmel, an overly-frequent customer of the stand, at the Ruggles Federated Congregational and Methodist Church, and settled with her husband in Huron and Richland Counties, later moving with her family to Salem.

A domestic goddess by her own reckoning, she enjoyed dancing with her husband, attending Bunker Hill United Methodist Church, and visiting every garage sale, flea market, and antique store she could find, amassing a collection of chicken knickknacks that her husband detested as most fowl.

After a farm auction and moving back to western Ohio in retirement, she proudly noted that her chicken collection was worth more than her husband’s tractor, proving that you can put all your eggs in one basket. She enjoyed gardening. She enjoyed weeding a little less so.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Parks of Mason; her son, David Gemmel (Pauline Maksimoff) of Youngstown; her grandchildren, Mary and Juliana, and Donald Shank; and numerous nieces and cousins.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband Charles; her parents; her sister, Jean Shank; and her brothers, James D. Griffin and infant Dean Rogers Seaman.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at Ruggles Church, 1364 U S Hwy. 224, New London, OH 44851, with interment to follow in Ruggles Township Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by Eastman Funeral Home in New London, Ohio and by Kinnick Funeral Home in Youngstown.

In lieu of flowers, Doris’ family asks for prayers for her, and that donations be made to a local church, hospice, or charity of the donor’s choice. Be generous – Doris and the chickens are watching.

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