Doris Lorraine Wilcox, 97

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Doris Lorraine (Hayes) Wilcox, 97, of Palmer, died on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at Taylorville Memorial Hospital.

The family will receive guests from noon until the time of ceremony at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 22, at Shafer-Perfetti and Assalley Funeral Home in Taylorville, with Rev. George Elder officiating. Services may be viewed online at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/24851638. Interment will follow the ceremony at Morrisonville Cemetery.

Mrs. Wilcox was born on Sept. 1, 1923, in Palmer, to Lee Eldon and Gladys Leah (Hewitt) Hayes. As a girl, she had a pony and travelled around the village with her friends. They often built campfires and fried potatoes. She attended Palmer High School until eleventh grade and graduated from Taylorville High School with the Class of 1941.

Following high school, Mrs. Wilcox attended Brown’s Business College in Springfield, while her family lived on a farm on the southeast edge of Springfield. She joined the Alpha Iota Sorority. While the men were away in the service, twelve of the girls formed a group that they called “Gusto.” These twelve Gusto Girls continued to meet every month until just a few years ago, she was the last surviving member.

After graduating from Brown’s, Doris rode the “traction” to the Illiopolis Munitions Plant, where she worked in the personnel department. On December 14, 1946, she married Warren Reed Wilcox at Davis Memorial Church in Taylorville. They had been sweethearts since they were fifteen years old. Before beginning their life-long job of farming, Mr. Wilcox worked as a carpenter and Mrs. Wilcox worked at Hummer Manufacturing in Springfield, a business owned by Montgomery Ward.

Mrs. Wilcox was a life-long member of the Advent Christian Church in Palmer, where she held many positions, including Sunday School and VBS Director, Deaconess and Treasurer, Cub Scout Leader, Red Cross Blood Drive Volunteer – a 15 plus gallon donor herself.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox were members of the Twist and Twirl Square Dance Group, dancing in many states. She was a member of the Christian County Lady Landowners, Christian County Senior Citizens and the Charlie’s Angels tap dance group. Mrs. Wilcox also played pinochle and was a member of multiple bridge clubs. Her favorite sports teams were the St. Louis Cardinals and the Illini basketball team. 

Mrs. Wilcox is survived by her sons, Larry Hayes Wilcox of Springfield and Bruce Lee (Donna) Wilcox of Palmer; granddaughters, Christy (Clayton) Bloome of Pawnee, Bobbie (Hank) Harker of Palmer and Laura (Andrew) Ahrens of St. Louis, MO; and great-grandchildren, Jacob (Rachel Dougherty) Bloome of Springfield, Rebecca (Dustin Craig) Bloome of Pawnee and Hayden, Brody, and Elayna Harker, all of Palmer.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Citizens of Christian County, 701 W. Adams Street, Taylorville, IL 62568. Condolences may be left online at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.