Dora Ellen Stotz

Dora Ellen Stotz passed away on September 17, 2022, at her home in Mount Pleasant, NC.  Everyone knew her as Dorie.  Her beloved son William was with her when she died of complications arising from cancer. 

Dorie was preceded in death by her husband Edward Wesley Stotz and her parents Louise Syphers Kline and William Kline, her brothers William and James and her cousin Samuel Hawthorne.   She is survived by her  son William M. Stotz, her daughter Nancy S. Larson (spouse Augustus) of Delray Beach, FL, son Albert M. Benshoff (spouse Kristine) of Concord, NC and stepson Theodore Stotz (Shelia) of Escondido, CA.  She is also survived by her niece Lynn K. Moorehouse (Rusty) of Stevensville, MD, her nephew Mike Kline of Long Beach, CA, her grandchildren Laura E. Benshoff (Jacob Rivkin) of Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Matthew A. Benshoff  (LeeMarie) of Concord, NC, Numan Stotz of Escondido, CA  and one great-grandchild, Arthur W. Benshoff. 

Dorie was born on November 2, 1929, in the Dry Tavern community, Greene County, PA.  Her father was a lockmaster on the Monongahela River.  She had happy memories of jumping off the lock wall into the River.  She was a proud graduate of the Jefferson High School class of 1946 (now Jefferson-Morgan) in  Jefferson PA where she played in the marching band.  Next Dorie attended the nursing program at the University of Pittsburgh where she obtained a Registered Nurse certificate.   

In 1960 she married the love of her life, Edward W. Stotz, a metallurgist at Great Lakes Steel Division of National Steel Corporation in Detroit.  The family settled in Grosse Ile, MI.  Dorie became active in the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, the local chapters of Questers, the Islanders (an amateur theatrical company) and others.  She threw the best parties on Grosse Ile.  Due to her great love of animals she adopted many stray dogs and cats.  After her children went to high school she started a business specializing in early American antiques, in which she traveled across the Midwest, mid-Atlantic states and New England doing shows and buying antiques.  Dorie also worked part time as a nurse at Wyandotte Hospital, Wyandotte, MI and later at the Penrickton Center for Blind Children, Taylor, MI.  Ed and Dorie traveled whenever they could, especially to France.  Dorie’s vibrant personality, love of  all animals and zest for life will be missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, please make a contribution to your favorite charity or the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church.  Funeral arrangements are not complete at this time.