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Photo of Doris F. (Henningsen) Orcutt

Doris F. (Henningsen) Orcutt

5/11/1922 - 5/15/2018


Obituary


Doris Orcutt, 96, of Clarion passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion, with loved ones at her side.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, May 21, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, 201 3rd Avenue Northeast in Clarion, with Reverend Mike Gudka officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Doris was born on May 11, 1922 in Estherville, Iowa, the daughter of Arthur and Mable (Osher) Henningsen. She was raised and attended school in Graettinger, graduating from Graettinger High School. She received a teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) and accepted a teaching position at Manning, Iowa. Later on she taught 1st grade at Tipton, Spencer, and Clarion (20 years). While teaching at Clarion, she earned her B.A. degree in elementary education from UNI. She was extremely proud of teaching so many children to read.

On February 13, 1944, Doris was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Orcutt at the Methodist Church in Graettinger. They made their first home in Ames, Iowa while Bob was finishing college at Iowa State.

They had three daughters: Susan, Mary, and Nancy. During their 54 years of marriage, they made their home in several Iowa towns, landing in Clarion in 1963, where they remained. Doris was a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, and teacher. Her husband Bob passed away Oct. 8, 1998.

Doris was a faithful member of the Methodist church. She sang in choir for 40 years, often doing solos in church. She was proud to have sung “The Lord’s Prayer” on VEJ Day. She participated in UMW and circle, receiving the Special Membership Award in 1981. She taught Sunday School and Bible School and worked at many bazaars. Doris was also a member of PEO and Hospital Auxiliary, serving as hospital volunteer into her 90’s. She loved to play bridge, entertain, travel, visit family, and crochet. She made beautiful afghans for each grandchild and baby blankets for each great grandchild.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children: Sue Martens of Hinton, Mary Jellings (Jerry) of Oelwein, and Nancy Nail (Mike) of Clarion; 8 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; sister-in-law Delores Orcutt; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, infant sister Nancy, sister-in-law Louise Frey, brothers-in-law Earl Frey and Jim Orcutt.