Doris ‘Aleyne’ Parsons, 82

Published 5:27 pm Thursday, March 1, 2012

Doris Parsons, 82
April 23, 1929 —  Feb. 22, 2012

Doris “Aleyne” Parsons, 82, of Cassopolis, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in her home while being lovingly cared for by her family.

Doris ‘Aleyne’ Parsons

She was born April 23, 1929, in Cassopolis to Jasper and Lenore (Underwood) Gleason. She married Loyd Dee Parsons on Sept. 29, 1946, in Dowagiac. He preceded her in death on April 8, 1986. She was also preceded in death by her father, Jasper Gleason; her mother, Lenore Swank; one daughter, Martha Rice; one sister, Eleanor Klapchuk; one brother, Gordon Gleason; one half-brother, Larry Swank;, and one cousin who was raised with her as a brother, John “Jack” Shafer.
Aleyne was a homemaker who enjoyed raising her family.  After her husband’s passing in 1986, she was the subject of a newspaper article describing her large family. She enjoyed cooking, rug crocheting, canning and gardening. She was an accomplished seamstress. She loved putting puzzles together (often keeping the last piece herself and teasing her children about one of them taking it), playing cards and Scrabble.
Mrs. Parsons briefly moved to Florida for a few years, enjoying the sunshine and warmth before returning to Michigan to be closer to her family.
Aleyne was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was a member of the Cassopolis congregation. She loved being involved in Bible study and education, which was a large part of her life.
She is survived by nine daughters, Phyllis (Leland) Garber of St. Paris, Ohio, Cheryll Parsons of Cassopolis, Beverly (Tom) Harris of Cassopolis, Susan (David) Hutchings of Cassopolis, Linda (Charles) Francis of Brookhaven, Miss., Cathy Eberhardt of Cassopolis, Mary (Jeff) Snyder of White Pigeon, Beth (Steve) Lee of Cassopolis, Pamela (Jim) Young of North Port, Fla.; seven sons, Stephen (Janet) Parsons of Cassopolis, Daniel Parsons of South Bend, Ind., Douglas Parsons of Cassopolis, Matthew Parsons of Dowagiac, Mark Parsons of Cassopolis, Michael (Kim) Parsons of Osceola, Ind., Patrick Parsons of Bloomington, Ind.; numerous grandchildren; several great-grandchildren (too many to count); and one son-in-law, Alan Rice of Cassopolis.
Family and friends gathered Sunday, Feb. 26, from noon until time of service at 2 p.m. at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 N. Broadway St., Cassopolis.  Following the service, Mrs. Parsons was laid to rest beside her husband in Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Sumnerville.
The family prefers memorial contributions to American Cancer Society, 1400 W. Milham, Portage, MI 49024, or Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Online condolences may be sent to wagnercares.com.