Shirey, Doris (Dot)
Doris (Dot) Miller Shirey, a Beltsville resident since 1946, passed away on May 30 at the age of 98. Doris was born in Mt. Laffee, PA, grew up in Port Carbon, and moved to Beltsville in 1946 after marrying Clayton (Bud) Shirey, also from Port Carbon. Doris graduated high school early and took training in bookkeeping, initially working as a bookkeeper with Sears. She and Clayton lived for periods of time in Massachusetts, England, Panama, Greece, and Germany while Clayton worked for the CIA and took up permanent residence in Beltsville in 1967.
Once they were finally situated in Beltsville, Doris began working with ARB (American Research Bureau) and went on to work at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. She also spent many years volunteering as a proofreader for The Beltsville News. She left The Beltsville News when she was 93 but continued to be a stickler for grammar and spelling. She was an expert quilter and seamstress, enjoyed playing bridge and bingo, and was always up for a trip to the casino (any casino). She and Clayton enjoyed traveling and spending time with family. They were members of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville.
Doris' husband predeceased her in 1980. She is survived by a daughter, Gail of Dunkirk, MD; and three sons, Robert of Conway, SC; Kenneth of Schnecksville, PA; and William of Lewes, DE; her grandchildren, Kirstyn, Brian, Bethany, and Rachel; and greatgrandchildren, Aubrey, Darcey, Tobin, and Bennett. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Lou Goodrich of Raleigh, NC.
In 2015, Doris moved to assisted living in Adelphi. In 2018 she was diagnosed with dementia which eventually took her life. A private internment will take place in Schuylkill Haven, PA.