- Date Of Birth: September 22, 1928
- Date Of Death: November 20, 2016
- State: Indiana
Doris Mae (Trenary) Matherly, 88, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday, Nov. 20.
Doris was born Sept. 22, 1928, in Auburn, to the late Clyde Brooks and Mary (Witt) Trenary.
She was the fourth child but first daughter. The family lived on a farm near Butler. Doris had four older brothers.
In July of 1929, all four of the little boys became ill. Then tragically, three of these little boys died within a matter of days. Doris and her surviving brother were joined by six more sisters as the years went on.
After graduation from high school, Doris worked in the DeKalb office of the Indiana & Michigan Electric Co. There she met a handsome young lineman, Chet Matherly of Elkhart.
They were married Aug. 28, 1948, in Butler. He passed May 12, 2013.
Doris and Chet had two children, Dr. Ryan D. (Amy Coy) Matherly of Elkhart and Kyra (Greg) Rolstad of Chewelah, Wash.
Doris and Chet moved to the Simonton Lake area when they were newlyweds and eventually built a home on the “lake that they loved.”
The couple was one of the first to waterski on the lake using skis which Chet made. They took turns driving their speed boat while the other skied, having the children as observers.
Doris was an active member of Castle (E.U.B.) United Methodist Church in Elkhart. When the church was closed, she and Chet found a new church home at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where she enjoyed worship and fellowship.
A stay at home mom, Doris later worked at Elkhart High School and then as an executive secretary at Miles (Bayer) Laboratories.
Doris was a consummate professional, often spending time on weekends at her desk.
In retirement, ballroom dancing, a long-time dream, became a passion that played a big part of their lives.
They often drove to Indianapolis and Chicago to dance to big-name dance bands and were also members of the local Guys and Dolls Dance Club.
At their 50th wedding anniversary party, they hired the Guy Lombardo Royal Canadians dance band to play for their families and friends.
Three years ago, Chet passed away. Her family worried that she wouldn’t be able to go on without him. But she found happiness in her great-grandchildren, her church, her special friend, Terry Trimmer and she anticipated each new day of sunrises and sunsets at her lake.
Surviving are children, her grandchildren, Ben (Gina) Matherly, Kelly (Greg) Shewmaker, both of Fishers, Austin Rolstad of Denver and Molly Rolstad of Spokane, Wash. Her great-grandchildren include, Gia Matherly, Eulah Shewmaker, Graham Matherly and Finley Shewmaker.
Also surviving are her sisters, Ruth Fetters, Alice Yarde, Mary Lou Baughman and sister-in law Emma Trenary.
