Doris Lucile Kramer

Doris Lucile Abel died April 23, 2024 at age 92 at Atria Senior Living in Novato CA. Doris was born August 4, 1931 to James William and Marion (Roake) Abel at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey She lived her first 5 years with her parents in nearby Springfield. Due to circumstances triggered by the Great Depression, she then lived 4 years with an aunt, Helene Crosby, in Flanders, New Jersey.

Doris returned to Springfield in 1940 and lived with her parents again. The family moved to Newark, New Jersey in 1945 where she graduated from South Side High School in 1949. In 1953, Doris graduated from New Jersey College for Women, today known as Douglass College.

Following graduation, Doris moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she met and married Don Anthony Kramer in 1956. The couple moved to North St. Paul, Minnesota and then Oak Park, Illinois where Mary Louise and Kendall were born. The family lived in Crystal, Minnesota for 2 years where Julia was born, and then later returned to the Chicago area where Claire was born.

In 1971, the family moved to Alexandria, Minnesota where Don established Star Electronic Service, a sales and service shop. Doris supported Don in the store for many years until she began working at the Alexandria Walmart store where she was employed for 13+ years in layaway.

During retirement, Doris served on committees at St. Mary’s Church and volunteered at the Douglas County Outreach Food Shelf. For eight years, she was caregiver to her sister, Constance, who suffered from Alzheimer’s.

After Don passed away in 2011, Doris remained in Alexandria until 2015 and then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to be closer to her children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James William and Marion, brother, James, sisters Elizabeth Givens, Constance Martin, and Laura Swallwell.

She is survived by her children, Mary Louise (Daniel J. Talbott), Kendall James (Sara Christopherson), Julia Elizabeth Simon (Allen) and Claire Ann McGowan (Edward), grandchildren, Grant Newnom, Sherry Watkins, Emily and Lucas Simon, and great-grandchildren Sadie and Lily Newnom and Brayden Watkins.

Services will be held at Keaton’s Redwood Chapel of Marin in Novato CA. Thursday May 9, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Doris will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery; Minneapolis with her husband.