Dorris Jane Gherke

Dorris Jane Witte Gherke, 93 of Grantsville, WV; formerly of Bridgeport, WV; departed this earthly life in the morning hours of Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Minnie Hamilton Health Care Long Term Facility in Grantsville, following an extended illness.

She was born July 4, 1928 in Morgantown, WV; daughter of the late Clifton E. and Dessie Long Witte and raised by her father and Etta L. McQuain Witte after the death of her mother.

Dorris attended First Ward School in Morgantown, Simpson Grade School in Bridgeport, and graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1946. Upon graduation, Dorris was employed by Hall Office Equipment, Inc., in June of 1946 and completed 47 years of service with that establishment, having retired on July 31, 1993.

On July 17, 1949 Dorris was united in marriage to Ira E. “Art” Gherke at the First Baptist Church in Glenville by Rev. Cornelius De Block and they enjoyed 54 ½ years of marriage before Ira’s passing on December 22, 2003.

During the 1960’s she became a member of the Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary and served as its President in 1968. She was a member of the Boothsville Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday school secretary, church clerk, past president of the American Baptist Women of the Church, and member of the choir.

She was given the honor of serving as Mother of the Year, even as she had no children of her own. She was later issued an official certificate of adoption as mother and grandmother by the children of the church.

Dorris is survived by her nephew, Richard R. Crislip of Texas and many nieces and nephews from the Gherke Family.

Along with her husband and parents, Dorris is preceded in death by a half-sister, Opal McClain Crislip.

A funeral service will be conducted at the Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., 2 Vanhorn Drive, Glenville, WV; 26351 at 3:00 PM; Sunday, June 19, 2022. Burial will follow in the Collins Community Cemetery at Stumptown, WV. Friends will be received from 1:00-3:00 Sunday afternoon at the mortuary in Glenville.

Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., is honored to assist the family of Dorris Jane Gherke with burial arrangements.