Doris Elaine Croft

 

Doris Elaine Croft, age 91, passed away November 2, 2022, at the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais unexpectedly but peacefully with family near.

She was born on July 14, 1931. She was the second child of four.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John A. Johnson and Sylvia M. (Carlson) Johnson., her husband of 65 years (Sweeney) Wilmer Croft, and oldest brother Lloyd (Delores) Johnson of California.

She is survived by her sister Shirley (Dick) Kerr of Minneapolis and brother Walter (Linda) Johnson, Colorado.; her loving “baby dog” Oscar Bo,” son Gary Croft, daughter Lynetta (Sheldon) Houglum of Grand Marais; three grandchildren Stacy (Anna Hamilton) Houglum of Grand Marais, Sherri (Bobby) Deschampe of Grand Portage, Jody (Tony) Smith Grand Marais, eight great-grandchildren Samantha (Jason) Donck, Colton Devyn, Jordyn, Maranda, and Mariah Deschampe, Paisley Smith of Grand Marais; five great-great-grandchildren Taylor and Tripp Deschampe, Walker Donck, Ava and Daxten Gordon she loved so dearly.; nieces and nephews, cousins and lots of friends young and old.

She was a graduate of Cook County. She grew up most of her life at Devil’s Track Cottages (Croftville) until she met and married Sweeney when he got out of the service. Her parents gave them the property, as they did for her siblings. They built little at a time and made a beautiful home near Devil’s Track River. They had two children, a son Gary and a daughter Lynetta. They were loving and supportive parents in education, school sports, music, and especially the meaning of the importance of family and property.

Besides being a hardworking homemaker, Doris loved doing laundry and did that for a few people in her home. She sold Avon products from her home for three years. She was talented in carpentry design; she would draw a plan, and Dad would build it—anything from adding to the house deck, outside Christmas decorations, or small things of many. She loved to house paint and always talked about being an interior designer but never pursued it. Crafty of so many things, too many to mention, Doris was happiest with a paintbrush in her hand. She was always there to help her mom clean the cabins until she sold the cottage; from there, she decided to work for Howard ad Rosemary Joynes. She started at the Bargain Barn and then worked at the department store for several years.

Then she worked for John Mcelevey at Arrowhead Pharmacy until her kids were out of school. After that, she started to clean for a few private people. Kah-Nee-Tah cabins for Suellen Kruse and Jeanie Schauer, then to Lakeville cabins for Elsie Scott. After that, she and her daughter Lynetta bought a ceramic business from Lilean Nicoliasen, and they both went to seminars to become certified teachers and taught and made and sold ceramics for four years.

From there, she enjoyed her retirement years at home doing crafts. She put her design and hands to work after she got her dog Oscar (a shih Tzu and started sewing dog jackets which she started selling at stores and craft sales or for special orders known as (Dog Gone Jackets) for ten years. She knitted all of her life, making sweaters, hats, mittens, and Afghans, which all of us kids and grandkids have a piece of her work. She also gave knitting lessons in her home to whoever needed them. She enjoyed craft sales and selling her items, especially her well-known knitted garland string of mittens or stockings and felt embroidered tree ornaments with so many items. She always said, “It kept her fingers limber.”

Her life was so busy, and it’s hard to tell it all. All of her family knows it well in their own memory. Her smile and laughter will be missed. She was one you could have a good heart-to-heart conversation with a cup of coffee and cookie, give a wise opinion, be supportive, and be willing to help out.

Thanks to caring calls, homemade meals from family are so much appreciated; thanks for the rides to town doctor visits in town and Duluth. To Gary, thank you for all the joy you’ve given me and your voice of beautiful; music and to so many people. To Lynetta, for all of the joy you have given me and the beautiful family you raised, good times, and stories.

She would like to thank all of the nurses and doctors at the Cook County Clinic and North Shore Health. Thank you, Dr. Terrell, for being there, and my great granddaughters RNs Jordyn, Maranda, and Mariah, for your special care and visits from all of the family; God Bless You All!

She was a hardworking woman of 91 years and always knew what she was doing tomorrow. Amazing!

There will be a celebration of life for Doris Croft on July 30 Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at her home. The fire number is 1883 East Highway 61. Friends and family are welcome.