Doris M. Thompson

Doris M. Thompson, 91, of Dunkirk, NY passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 29, 2024.

Doris was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on July 10th, 1933 to the late Merlin and Pauline Scott. She was a 1951 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Dunkirk. After high school, she took a position at the Allegheny Ludlum steel plant in Dunkirk, where she worked in Accounting. She subsequently worked as a bookkeeper for a local accountant for many years, then as a receptionist and bookkeeper at The Invention Room of Hair Design in Fredonia until her retirement in 1995. It was in 1955 when she met Leon Thompson, whom she wed in August of 1956. Several years later, they designed and built a house on West Lake Rd., where they resided until they moved into assisted living at Fredonia Place in 2023.

Doris was active for many years in the Dunkirk Garden Club and the old Monday night Modernaires Ladies bowling league at Lucky Lanes. And until fairly recently, she was also an active participant with a Silver Sneakers exercise group in Dunkirk. Doris, whose informal nickname was “the Energizer Bunny” because of her fast walking pace, was a “soccer mom” of sorts before it was a thing – shuttling her children to and from baseball games, wrestling matches, cheerleading events, and whatnot. She was also an avid reader, jigsaw puzzle-doer, crossword solver, and ad nauseam watcher of “Law and Order” reruns. And most of all, she was a great friend and neighbor to many, always offering help whenever anyone was in need.

In addition to her parents, Doris was predeceased by her husband, Leon; her son, Lawrence; her sisters, Susan Moeckel and Jean Schoener; and her brother, Douglas Scott. Doris is survived by her brother, Raymond Scott of Hamburg, NY; her sister, Patricia Schrantz of Fredericksburg, VA; her son, Richard (Maureen) Thompson, of Honeoye Falls, NY; daughter, Susan (Jeff) Guziec, of East Otto, NY; daughter-in-law, Carol Thompson, of Grapevine, TX; her grandchildren, Shelby (Brandon) Plotner, of Carrollton, TX; Caitlin (Chris) Agee, of Harker Heights, TX; Benjamin Thompson, of Bend, OR; Ian Thompson, of Gardiner, NY; Andrew Amatuzzo, of Williamsville, NY; and Maia Amatuzzo, of Fredonia, NY; her great-grandchildren, Liam and Amelia Plotner, and Jack Agee; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by her family, friends, and the wonderful, caring staffs at Fredonia Place and the Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dunkirk.

A viewing and funeral service will be held at McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home, 736 Central Ave., Dunkirk on Friday, October 4th. The viewing will begin at 1:00 PM, followed by the service at 1:30 PM. All are welcome to a reception at the Fredonia Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 219 Central Ave., Fredonia after the service concludes. Private burial to be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Doris’s name can be made to Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Ave, Lakewood NY 14750, or at chpc.care.