Obituary of Doris E. Devore

Doris E. Devore, Age 100, of Zion, Illinois passed away on October 12, 2021, entering into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Doris was born February 5, 1921 in Pocahontas, Illinois. She graduated from Altamont Community High School in Altamont, Illinois in 1938, where she played on the girls’ basketball team and participated in the state competition for shorthand and typing. She worked as a stenographer in an abstract office in Vandalia, Illinois and then as an Assistant Cashier at the First National Bank in Altamont. She met her husband, Gehl Devore, in Altamont, where her father was the pastor of the First Methodist Church. They were married on August 22, 1940, a union which lasted over 78 years. The Devores moved to northern Illinois in 1944, serving the congregation of the Methodist Church in Westmont, Illinois. Doris worked at the First State Bank in Westmont, prior to the birth of their 2 children; Bill in 1948 and Jan in 1950. After Westmont, the Devores served at Grace Methodist Church (1956-1961) in Rockford, Illinois, Barrington Methodist Church (1961-1963) in Barrington, Illinois, and First United Methodist Church (1963-1980) in Waukegan, Illinois. After her husband retired from the ministry, Doris worked part-time as a clerk-typist in the Customer Service Department at American Hospital Supply in Waukegan. Known as the “energizer bunny,” Doris was active in a number of church and community activities. At First United Methodist Church, she sang in the choir, played in the bell choir, was a member of the Adult Seekers Sunday School Class, chaired a morning circle, was secretary of the Friendly Service Committee and was a member of the United Methodist Women. Also, she sang in the Northern Illinois Ministers’ Wives’ Chorus, served on the board of Church Women United, was a past chaplain of the Waukegan Women’s Club and served as a volunteer at Victory Memorial Hospital. In addition, she was an active member of Chapter HS of P.E.O., the Bonnie Brook Women’s Golf Association and belonged to the Clara Cummins Book Club. She was an avid supporter of the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Waukegan Community Concerts, Waukegan Summer Band Concerts at the Stiner Pavilion, the Viking Park Singers, Waukegan Library Summer Concerts and the Friends of the Library. She and Gehl were supporters of several area service clubs, including the Waukegan Exchange Club, were long-time members of the Lake County Family YMCA, and she helped solicit funds for the American Cancer Society and the Heart Association. Doris is survived by her two children, son, Bill (wife, Jan) of Wadsworth Illinois and daughter, Jan of Decatur, Illinois: two grandchildren, Christopher Devore of Scottsdale, Arizona and Angela Devore of Gurnee, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. W. Gehl Devore, her parents, Rev. Fred and Lena Mery, her brother, Newell Mery and her sister, Julia Purdy. The family would like to thank the staff of Rolling Hills Place and Rolling Hills Manor in Zion for their compassionate care for Doris over the past 7 years. Donations in Doris’ memory may be made to First United Methodist Church in Waukegan. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 17, 2021 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 128 N. Martin Luther King Drive in Waukegan. A service to remember and honor her life will follow at 3:00 PM. Burial will take place on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Chapel in the North Shore Garden of Memories. Dr. Barbara Morgan will officiate. Arrangements are being handled by the Congdon Funeral Home in Zion, Illinois.