Doris I. Close

Doris I. Close, age 94, of Northville, passed away peacefully November 30, 2013. She was born May 14, 1919 in Plymouth, Michigan; daughter of Harold and Olive (nee Roberts) Compton. She was a graduate of Plymouth High School in 1937. Doris was united in marriage to Donald "Mike" Herrick on December 2, 1940, who passed away April 13, 1973. Doris was then united in marriage to Richard Close on May 1, 1977; they spent 18 loving years together until his death in 1995. Doris worked as a seamstress and designer for Cadillac Drapery in Plymouth, doing freelance seamstress work as well. She has been a resident of Northville since 1990; formerly of Union Lake and Plymouth. She and her husband Richard enjoyed many summers on Round Lake in the home they built together. Doris sang in the church choir for most of her life. She began while a member of the First Baptist Church of Plymouth, and continued her love of singing with the First United Methodist Church of Northville after becoming a member in 1970. She was very active with FUMC throughout the years; her involvement included co-founding the Youth Club program, serving on the Youth Club Board, the FUMC Scholarship Fund, as well as the Christian Education Department. Doris also served as a co-crew leader using her building expertise for the Appalachian Service Project, making homes in that area warmer, safer, and drier. It was a passion she shared with her family, especially granddaughter Kelly. Doris was caring, resourceful, and brilliant. Following her mother's death when Doris was 14, her father taught her and her sisters how to be inventive and creative. She instilled in her own children how to be respectful, goal oriented, and independent; without question her family was raised the right way. She loved to dance, even participating in amateur ballroom dancing competitions with her husband Richard at Arthur Murray Dance Studio; in fact, she and Richard met while dancing. Doris is survived by her loving children, Judy (Russell) Doré and Nick (Judy) Herrick; her step-daughter, Barbara Close; her grandchildren, Patrick (Karen) Calhoun, David (Cathy) Doré, Kelly (Greg) Moore, Jay (Roseanne DiPonio) Herrick, and Kevin M. Herrick; and her great grandchildren, Anna and Russell Calhoun, Alice, Charlotte, and Claire Doré, Sophie Moore, and Julianna Herrick. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald "Mike" Herrick and her husband Richard Close; her parents; her step son, Dale Close; and her sisters, Helen Wallace, Catharine Sherrick, and Jeanne Mettetal. Visitation will be held Friday, December 6, 2013 from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 W. Dunlap, Northville. A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 1 p.m. with visitation noon until 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 777 W. Eight Mile Rd., Northville 48167. Doris will be laid to rest at Rural Hill Cemetery in Northville. The family would appreciate memorial contributions to Appalachian Service Project or FUMC Scholarship Fund.