Doris E. Duff

Doris Evelyn (Musselman) Duff, 98, passed away Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, at Creasy Springs in Lafayette where she had been a resident since Sept. 21. She was born May 1, 1923, to Hoy and Eva June (Kingery) Musselman in the Carroll County farmhouse where she lived nearly all her life. After graduating from Flora High School in 1941, she attended Kent State University.

   Doris married Donald R. Duff in Flora on July 25, 1944.  He preceded her in death in 1969. Her early married years were spent as a farm wife and homemaker.  Her farm was recently celebrated as a Hoosier Homestead at the 2021 Indiana State Fair. Once her younger children were in school, she began a career at Flora Elementary and Junior High Schools, first in the cafeteria and then several years as the secretary to the principal.  Later, she worked in the Carroll County Auditor’s office and for the Area Plan Commission.  After retiring, she volunteered at First Step Preschool where she helped some of her grandsons and great-grandsons start their educations.

   Doris was a member of the Flora First Brethren Church, where she was the pianist and treasurer for many years, and later the Living Faith Church of the Brethren.  She was also a member of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Psi Iota Xi and Carroll County Republican Women.  Once her family was raised, Doris enjoyed china painting, watercolors, and needlework. She persisted in solving the daily newspaper cryptoquote and crossword puzzles.

   A devoted Purdue fan, she was proud that her four children were Purdue graduates. Doris rarely missed any school or athletic events of her grandsons and great-grandsons.

   Doris is survived by her children, Diane Sturdivant of Elizabethtown, Ky., Gary Duff (Debra) of Flora, Joy Atkinson (Thomas) of Delphi, and Susan Peterson (James) of Arlington Heights, Ill.  Also surviving are five grandsons, Barry Morgan (Xiaolu Hu) of Altadena, Calif., Jeremy Duff (Amy) and Ryan Duff (Ashley), both of Flora, and Evan Elliott (fiancé Abigail DiSano) and Elliott Atkinson, both of Indianapolis, and six great-grandsons, Ethan, Owen, Aidan, Riley, Weston, and Colby Duff.  She is also survived by a sister, Garnet Snyder, of Warsaw; sisters-in-law, Patricia Duff and Wanda Duff; and several nieces and nephews.

   She was also preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Harold Sturdivant; brothers-in-law, Keith Snyder, William Duff and Robert Duff; and an infant sister, Lois Jean Musselman.

   Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 19, at Genda Funeral Home Reinke Chapel, 103 N. Center St., Flora, from 2 p.m. until the time of her service at 4 p.m. Pastor Guy Studebaker will officiate. Burial will follow at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Flora.

   Memorial contributions may be made to the Carroll County Community Foundation.