Doris McCormick was born Doris Evelyn Ward, on June 17, 1924, at the home which her father and grandfather built on the corner of Phelps and Mizell in Winter Park, Florida. She died peacefully at the home of her daughter in Longwood on September 30, 2023, aged 99.
Her parents, Carroll Layton Ward, Sr. and Henrietta Parsons Ward were owners of Lakemont Dairy located on Cady Way, delivering milk and other dairy products to the local community. Her grandparents were former Mayor Charles Frederic Ward and Clara Benedict Ward, who were long serving community stewards. Her great-grandparents, Charles Hezekiah Ward and Emma Chubb Ward moved to Florida from Vermont in the late 1890’s as pioneers and maintained one of Winter Park’s earliest orange groves. Doris had three siblings that predeceased her in death: Joyce Ward, Carroll Layton Ward, Jr., and Hariette Ward Kent.
After having lost her mother at an early age, Doris and her sister Harriette were inseparable and were known as the “Winter Park girls. Doris graduated from Winter Park High School in 1942, where she was a junior editor of the Towayam, in Tri-Hi-Y, the Glee Club, Orchestra, and played French horn in the band. In her high school yearbook, Doris was described as “Fair, Kind and True”. During high school, she worked at the Bank of Winter Park on Park Avenue.
As part of the war relief, Doris and Harriette would help their father deliver milk to neighbors and served as hostesses at the nearby Orlando Air Base Officers Club. There Doris met her soon-to-be husband, Lt. Col. John McCormick, who had recently returned to the United States after being a prisoner of war. The two wed on June 9, 1945 at the Post Chapel at the Orlando Air Base, and moved to Gainesville, Florida, where John attended law school at the University of Florida on the GI Bill. They had been married for 72 years when he passed away at their home in 2017,
Doris and John moved around Florida with their new family for several years before settling back in Winter Park. They were longtime parishioners of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church and their children attended St. Margaret Mary School.
After her mother’s early death, Clara Ward, heavily influenced Doris’s sense of community. A loving and caring woman, Doris always gave her time to others. She volunteered for many of the activities in which her children were involved. She was the school hot dog mom, Indian Guides leader, Girl Scout leader, and received an Outstanding Leadership award from the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts. When not supporting her children, Doris would host bridge club at her home in Winter Park. Being extremely proud of her heritage, Doris and her sister Harriette were regular docents, and together giving personalized tours at the Winter Park Historical Museum.
Doris pursued numerous hobbies in her free time and was known as an outstanding artist, photographer, cook, gardener, outdoor enthusiast and at home seamstress. Whether at home or at their condo in New Smyrna Beach, she was always enjoying nature or working on a project, sometimes painting one of her favorite orchids, creating a series of stained-glass ornaments for her Christmas tree, teaching canoeing in the Wekiva River; or making clothes for her children. Her hands were always as full of her love.
She will be greatly missed by her family: Catherine McCormick Kotanchik, Thomas Ward McCormick (Mary), Robert Edward McCormick (Debbie), Elizabeth McCormick Ciullo (Kevin) and Joseph Charles McCormick (Kari), along with eleven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, who adore her with all of their hearts.
“We know that we can’t have you, but we’re happy knowing that the angels have finally got you back. Goodbye to a wonderful woman and a beautiful mother.”
There will be a Mass for those who would like to say their last goodbye to Doris on the 14th of October, at 10:30am, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park, with interment to follow at Palm Cemetery at 1005 N. New York Avenue, Winter Park.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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