Doris Jean Welch

Doris Jean Welch, 85, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 21, 2018. She was born in Barberton Ohio and lived in the area her entire life. Mom loved life and shared that love with everyone she met. She had a special gift for bringing out the best in people and for making them feel blessed. Mom was a nurturing and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a beloved wife, daughter, aunt, sister-in-law, and friend. Her life was truly a gift to all that knew her. Her cheerful disposition, love of music, spontaneous dances and sweet conversations with stuffed animals will live in our hearts forever.

Mom was preceded in death by our dad, Vernon ‘Reed’ Welch with whom she shared a passion for learning and adventure; her brothers, Clifford (Kathryn deceased) and Ronald (Betty) Krohn; her niece, Cheryl (Keith) Miller; and her grandson, Reed Patrick Welch (her angel).

She is survived by her children, Reed Allan (Mary Ellen) Welch, Daniel (Kara) Welch, Patricia (Edward) Becker; her grandchildren, Reed Becker, Stephanie (Rob) Ragain, Jennifer (late partner Mike) Fair, Jonathan (Kelly) Welch, Brian Welch, Christopher (Kaylee) Welch, Klarrisa Buskey, Kassie Buskey; great-grandchildren,  Michael Fair, Megan Fair, Jaden Fair and Jonathan Welch Jr.; lifelong sister-in-law and friend, Betty Krohn; nieces, Suzanne (Ron) Bodnar, Mary Beth Berry; and special friend, Audrey Myers.

Mom had a passion for teaching children and cherished her time as a Sunday school teacher at the Copley United Methodist Church. She was proud of her work at Schneider National Trucking and enjoyed cheering on all Cleveland sports teams with unending optimism. Mom fought a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s but never let it dampen her spirits or change her upbeat outlook. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family is asking those who loved or knew her to reach out to a friend or stranger in need with a kind word or gesture in her memory. Cremation has taken place and Mom will be laid to rest next to Dad at Greenlawn Memorial Park.