Kerkove, Doris Jean

Doris Jean Kerkove, 86, of North English, died Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at English Valley Care Center in North English. A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 21, at Powell Funeral Home in North English. Pastor Edwin Jordan will officiate. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, rural Deep River.

Doris was born Jan. 19, 1925, in Guernsey, Iowa, a daughter of Newton Franklin and Bessie Adella (Lindsey) Gerard. She grew up in the Millersburg community and attended Millersburg School. She was united in marriage to Chester Dale Kerkove on Aug. 16, 1940, in Memphis, Mo. They made their home in North English, where Doris worked 30 years as a florist and greenhouse operator. She retired in 1990. Doris loved to read and grow flowers. She became a resident of the English Valley Care Center in June 2010.

She is survived by sons, Jerry (Karen) Kerkove and Bill (Christie) Kerkove, both of North English; daughters, Phyllis (Bill) Back of Loveland, Ohio and Susan (Larry) Lee of South English; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Melvin Gerard of Naperville, Ill.; sisters, Betty Jacobs of North English, Velma Mayes of Dumas, Texas and Joan Horning of Keota; and a sister-in-law, Dorris Gerard of Cedar Rapids.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale in March 1987; sisters, Dorothy Olson and Opal Holeton; a brother, Donald Gerard; and a sister-in-law, Linda Gerard.

A general memorial fund has been established.

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