Doris Natalie (Packer) McDonald, 99, was born in Rapid City on Aug 10, 1909. She was the firstborn of Clyde Lavern and Eva B (Pitman) Packer. She passed away on Oct 22, 2008 at her home in Kalkaska.
Doris graduated from Rapid City High School and Kalkaska County Normal to become a school teacher. She also earned a Teacher's Certificate from the Palmer Method of Business Writing in Chicago.
Doris married Dayton Samuel Peck of Rapid City in 1935. He had three sons, Dayton Jr, Richard, and Vinton, at the time. Dayton and Doris had five children together, Verna, June, James, Carol, and Ralph.
Dayton died in 1956, leaving Doris and four of the children still at home. Doris continued beign a homemaker and doing foster care for a few years. Playing the piano in the Rapid City Church of Christ introduced Doris to the Rev. Carl McDonald, of Traverse City, whom she married in 1965.
Carl also preceded Doris in death, as did sisters; Willodean, Esther, and Ardith; brothers, Oscar, and Dale; three of her children, James, Carol and stepson, Richard; and grandson, Daniel Foster.
Grateful for the life of Doris (stepmother, mother, mother in law, sister, and grandmother) are Dayton (Floy) Peck and Gretchen Peck of Kalkaska, Vinton (Barbara) Peck of Apache Junction, AZ, Verna Morrison and June Foster of Kalkaska, Eudora Peck of Williamsburg, Moe Guy and Ralph Peck of Rapid City; siblings; Clyde (Phyllis) Packer of Williamsburg, Eva Grant of Cadillac, and Etta Gribi of Elk Rapids; 26 grandchildren; 57 great grandchidlren; 7 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service honoring Doris was held Tue, Oct 28, at 11 am at the Rapid City Church of Christ with Doris' nephew, Dr. Steven Packer Sr, pastor of Pinconning Wesleyan Church officiating. A potluck will follow the service at Rapid City's old town hall.
Arrangements were made by Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home.
