Doris Eileen Hart

Doris Eileen Hart (née Burroughs), 93, of St. Joseph passed away Thursday, January 14, at her home. A celebration of life will be held on August 15 from 4:00 to sunset at the south pavilion at Lions Park Beach in St. Joseph. This will be an informal, picnic-style event that will truly be a celebration. Food will be served, but guests are also welcome to bring a dessert to share, since Doris loved desserts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brookview Montessori School. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Doris was born November 5, 1927 in Clyde, Ohio to Jesse E. and Grace N. (Sultz) Burroughs, as one of nine siblings. After graduating from Clyde High School in 1945, she enrolled in civil service training to work for Air Technical Service Command to aid with the war effort. She and her sisters also formed their own band called the Burroughs Family Orchestra and performed throughout town. When World War II ended, she became a payroll clerk at Whirlpool in Clyde, Ohio, where she met Gene Hart. The two married in 1954. They had two children and were together until his death in 2014. In 1963 the family moved to Baroda, MI. She worked for many years as a secretary of Baroda Elementary School and was a member of the Baroda Women’s Civic League. She later returned to work at Whirlpool in Benton Harbor, and in 1985 she and Gene moved to a house overlooking the lake in St. Joseph, where they were able to watch the gorgeous sunsets every night. In 1992 Doris retired to become a full-time grandma to two granddaughters, who were the joy of her life. Doris loved gardening in her hillside garden, playing cards, music, reading, and baking. She made wonderful pies, but her family joked that they came with a disclaimer, because she always had some story about why that particular dessert didn’t look perfect. She made friends everywhere she went, and she constantly made her loved ones laugh with her goofy sense of humor. She worked hard and never slowed down, even insisting into her 80s that she mow her own lawn. She wrote in her diary every day, and in her later years she used these diaries to write her life story. She is survived by her son Daniel (Cindy) Hart of Benton Harbor and daughter Cathy (Craig Steenbergh) Hart of Saugatuck; granddaughters Alana Hart and Erin Hart, both of Chicago; brother Harry Burroughs of Clyde; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and seven siblings.