Doris Mae Croy

Doris Mae Croy – age 84 – of Gallatin, MO, passed away Tuesday morning, July 23rd, 2019 at Crestview Nursing Home in Bethany, MO.  Doris was born in Daviess County on June 16th, 1935, the daughter of Judson and Jessye Smith. During high school she worked dipping ice cream and making soda at the Davis Drug store in Gallatin. She was a graduate of Gallatin High School, class of 1953. 

Doris was united in marriage to M. Henry Croy on July 17, 1954. In her young adult years, she worked for the Intercounty Telephone Company in Gallatin. She was also employed for 19 years by the Lambert Cap Factory where she started out doing piece work and later advanced to the cutting department. She often spent her evenings working around the farm with her husband or tending her garden. She raised and sold strawberries, while also harvesting huge tomatoes for their family to enjoy together. 

After leaving the cap factory, Doris was devoted to her garden work and began adding beautiful flower beds to their home in Jameson. She also enjoyed cooking. Cinnamon rolls and homemade ketchup from her kitchen were items frequently requested by her family. She volunteered with the Jameson Betterment Association and assisted Henry reading water meters around Jameson for several years. She also worked from home to collect taxes for Grand River township until the home collection system was brought to a close. After discovering her knack for record keeping, she filled in part-time as a clerk at the Daviess County Recorder’s office in Gallatin. She worked there until her husband developed Alzheimer’s and required a full-time caregiver. She was the devoted to Henry’s care until his death in 1998. 

Doris was an accomplished seamstress and completed countless projects from making school dresses and curtains to reupholstering furniture. Her two grandchildren enjoyed many overnight stays at their home where they were entertained by pumping water from an old well, helping Henry milk a cow, and bottle-feeding baby calves. As her grandchildren grew, Doris loved attending their school activities and watching them mature into adulthood.

Doris had a passion for math and enjoyed working with numbers whether it was tax collecting, designing a layout in the cutting department, or planning the material for one of her latest quilts. She found joy in designing quilts for both of her grandchildren when they were married. She continued this tradition by sewing a baby quilt to celebrate the arrival of each great-grandchild. She loved attending Green Hills Quilt club meetings where she was able to visit with friends, view brand new patterns, share current projects, and receive different ideas for new creations. 

Even though rheumatoid arthritis set in over the last ten years of her life, Doris remained in her small Gallatin home. Although her body did not tolerate traditional methods of treating the arthritis, she was able to continue gardening and sewing through the use of pain medication to manage her discomfort. She planted small pots of tomatoes, radishes, green beans, and many flowers on the east side of her home. She looked forward to participating in the weekly card games at the local senior citizens center.  She often pushed beyond her pain to keep doing the things she loved and also attend family celebrations.  

Doris was an avid reader with John Grisham, Lee Childs, and Louis L’Amour being among her favorite authors. She could often be found venturing to the Jamesport grocery store in search of a bargain and had a passion for garage sales where she always seemed to find something of interest. She could never pass up a good deal.

Doris was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

Mrs. Croy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, HenryMarion Croy; brother, Frank Smith, and step-father, Glenn Redman. She leaves her daughter, Judy (Stan) Tibbles of Gilman City, MO; sister-in-law, Shirley Smith of Gallatin, MO; granddaughter, Stacy (Ryan) Jenkins of Kansas City, MO; grandson, Jason (Holly) Tibbles of Bethany, MO; great-grandchildren, Eva, Madelyn, Izabella, Tate, Darby, Maclyn and several nieces and nephews and other extended family.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Active Aging Resource Center or the Daviess County Library.  Funeral services will be held at 3:30 PM, Saturday, July 27th, 2019 at Stith Funeral Home in Gallatin.  Visitation is scheduled at the funeral home beginning at 2:00 PM Saturday, prior to the service.  Friends may call after 11:00 AM, Friday at the funeral home.  Interment following at Centenary Cemetery in Gallatin.  Arrangements are under the direction of Stith Funeral Home in Gallatin.  Online guestbook at www.stithfamilyfunerals.com

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