CHAUTAUQUA – Donna Evelyn Cooper Dort Miller, 93, of Chautauqua, NY, died Wednesday (December 24, 2014) comfortably and peacefully in her home at 11pm on Christmas Eve.
She was born January 12, 1921 in Chicago, IL., the only child of the late Grandon Ezra and Jennie Evelyn Schultz Cooper.
Donna's first summer at Chautauqua was in 1922, when her parents moved to Chautauqua to operate The Cooper. She lived at Chautauqua the summers of 1922-1926, then year round from 1926 until her 1943 Marriage, part time and seasonal until 2005 when she lived year round again to the present. She loved Chautauqua and loved to sew, play tennis and bicycle.
She was a graduate of Chautauqua Central School where she accompanied Girls Chorus and of Fredonia State Teachers College. She married Francis Dort and became a resident of Dunkirk, then East Town of Dunkirk, until he died in 1962. She belonged to the First United Methodist Church of Dunkirk where she sang in the choir, was president of Women's Society, and taught Sunday School and Religious Education. She was president of School #3 Mother's Club. She was secretary to Rev. Cook at Presbyterian Church for a short time.
Donna worked for Chautauqua County Department of Social Services from April 1963 until she retired June 1983, starting in the old jail and retiring as a Senior Account Clerk. She rejoined Hurlbut Memorial United Methodist Community Church and sang in the choir through Junior High School until college, then again after retirement. She was also the Proprietor of The Cooper in Chautauqua Institution.
Donna was a member of the Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church in Chautauqua, she was a member and director of Circle of Hands, which revolved into the Senior Citizens of Stow craft group where she made many donated wheelchair pockets and lap robes, North Harmony Senior Citizens, Harmony Historical Society, Chautauqua County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle where she graduated in 1986, Guild of the Seven Seals of CLSC, and the Chautauqua Property Owners Association.
She is survived by two daughters, Evelyn Donna Thorndike of Dewittville, and Shirley Blossom Dort of Mayville and Chautauqua; two grandchildren Pauline Donna Thorndike of Cincinnati, OH and Stephen Llewell (Colleen) Thorndike of Rochester, NY; two step children Duane (Mary) Miller Jr. of Cobleskill, NY and Sarah (Roy) Jones of North Richland Hills, TX; 4 step grandchildren Marcy (Steve) Dages, Alice Miller, Amy Miller, and Ann (Sonny) Burton; 6 step great grandchildren; her sister-in-law Donna Dort of Kennedy and cousin Rita Benson of Midvale, Utah.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Francis Dort whom she married June 23, 1943 in Chautauqua and who died July 28, 1962; and her second husband Duane Sturgis Miller whom she married October 10, 1988 in Dunkirk and who died November 27, 2004. Donna and Duane spent winters in Florida from about 1992 through 2004.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 am Tuesday at Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church in Chautauqua. Rev. Bill Jackson and Rev. Paul Womack will officiate. Burial will be in the Chautauqua Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 pm Monday in the Freay Funeral Home, Mayville.
Memorials may be made to the Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church or to North Harmony Senior Citizens.
You can leave a message or light a candle for Donna by going to www.freayfuneralhome.com.