Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah at 10:30 a.m.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the services at the church.  Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery.  She will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband John.  Memorials may be directed to the Shenandoah Public Library, Easter Seals or do something special with your family to create a new memory in her honor.  Doris' service has been recorded and you can click on the link to listen to the funeral service. https://youtu.be/ShL6m6EGG8w

Doris Mae Holmes McNeilly was born on December 14, 1929, in Ottumwa, Iowa and peacefully passed away on September 23, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was the youngest of five children born to Glen and Margaret Larkin Holmes. Soon after her birth, the family moved back to Chariton, Iowa where she spent her entire childhood.

Doris had three sisters, Ruth, Eloise, and Martha and one brother, Howard. She attended Chariton Schools where she was in the Homecoming Court, wrote for the school newspaper, worked at Piper's Candies, and amazingly, played the drums in the high school band.

After high school, Doris attended Iowa State Teachers' College (now University of Northern Iowa) and received her two-year teaching degree. She was then hired by Dr. L.A. Logan to teach in Shenandoah.  There, she eventually met John McNeilly when the local jeweler told him there was a new teacher in town who was cute – and short!  The two became acquainted at the Henry Fields' breakfast counter and quickly became a couple.

On June 7th, 1953, they were married in Chariton, Iowa and immediately set sail for Europe for their honeymoon.  After their honeymoon, they started a new life in Spain as John would be working for the Inagrisa Company to help introduce hybrid seed corn in Europe. Doris and John quickly became immersed in the expat life in Spain where they fell in love with the Spanish people and their culture and developed a lifelong love of travel.  This set the tone for the rest of their lives.

After several years in Spain, they returned to Shenandoah with their favorite souvenir, daughter Joan, who was born in Madrid.   In Shenandoah they added two more daughters to their family, Melinda and Jane. Those were busy years with supporting John in their business, raising a family, contributing to the community and enjoying friends.

In the 1970s, Doris went back to college and earned her four-year teaching degree from Tarkio College.  She subbed for many years, then taught in Shenandoah Middle School for several years, which she loved.  She was proud of preparing an authentic prairie trail meal each year for students, as part of their unit on the Westward Movement.

During her years in Shenandoah, Doris was active in Child Study Club, Garden Club, PEO, Bridge Club, Investment Club, Girl Scouts, American Field Service, and the Saturday Night Club. She also was involved in Meals on Wheels and was a patient advocate.

At the Shenandoah Presbyterian Church she was a dedicated and active member.  She served on the Session, the Clergy Search Committee, was a Deacon, the Christian Education Director, taught Sunday School, and was involved in the Presbyterian Women's group.

After husband John died in 2002, Doris fulfilled their lifelong dream, by taking all 13 of their children and grandchildren on an unforgettable trip to experience their beloved Spain. She continued to live a full life in Shenandoah traveling, entertaining, volunteering and visiting her family.

In 2014, Doris decided to sell the much-loved family home and move to Des Moines.  In what could only be divine intervention, Doris found an independent living apartment which was only one long block from her family, a grocery store, drug store, bank, dry cleaner, and right next to a Presbyterian Church!  Doris spent many enjoyable years in Des Moines making friends, enjoying new activities, traveling and continuing to visit her family.  On one memorable trip she took when she was in her 80s, she visited Egypt and rode a camel!  At her new church, Central Presbyterian, she participated in Bible Study and in her 90s was a tutor at the church to elementary school children. Even being named Tutor of the Month!

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, John N. McNeilly.  The two of them shared forty-nine amazing years of marriage and were an example to their family.  As a couple, they shared a wonderful life united by a love of travel, devotion to family and the beauty of embracing other people and cultures.

Doris was also preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Ruth Holmes Morgan, Howard Holmes, Eloise Holmes Threlkheld, and Martha Holmes Baker.

She is survived by her three daughters and their families: Joan (Bill) Lewis of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Melinda (Danne) Jones of Des Moines, Iowa, and Jane (John) Murphy, of Overland Park, Kansas. Grandchildren: Meredith (Dan) Richards, Ben (Emily) Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Jordan Jones (Miranda Da Costa), Mallory Jones (Brian Allen), Mia Murphy (Austin Stump), and Meg Murphy. Great Grandchildren: Mackenzie, Katelyn, and Lindsey Lewis, Anna and Julia Richards, Naima Jones and baby boy Jones due in November.

Doris had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest until the end. She loved parties and all gatherings, both as a hostess and as an attendee.  She had a positive and optimistic outlook on life and was a friend to so many. Doris never sought recognition for any of her actions. Her faith was important to her and she lived it out each day. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her family and she made every family member feel special. We will miss her more than we can say.

And as she would say, may you all have a "Happy Face in the Morning".

"That best portion of a good woman's life, are her little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."   William Wordsworth (adapted)