Doris (Diz) Schlee of Laurens, 81, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on May 19, 2020, after a brief illness.

Born in Davenport, NY on April 24, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Neil and Laura Turner. She was a graduate of SUNY Delhi and worked as a dietician at Bassett Hospital before leaving to raise her daughters.  She recently retired as Town Bookkeeper and Tax Collector for the town of Laurens, positions she held for over 30 years.  To recognize her many years of service, the town of Laurens established the "Doris Schlee Park" in her honor in 2018.  She was also very active in the Laurens community serving on the board of the Laurens Historical Society and volunteering at the town library.  There may also have never been an election that she didn't serve at, reveling in the fact that it gave her the opportunity to visit with so many people.

When family and friends think of her, we remember her shelves and shelves of antique cookie jars, her love of family gatherings, the tax collector so loved by everyone they actually wanted to pay their taxes, the joy she took in baking with her family, what a huge sports fan she was (especially her UConn Huskies women's basketball team), her driving hours to watch her grandchildren's many activities, her always "being right behind" her favorite runners and most importantly, how she always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. She had a great sense of humor and loved her many friends, including those in the "Bright Ideas Club."

Diz (or Oma to her grandchildren) dedicated her life to her family. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Robert Schlee; their two children, Lori (Brian) DeLola and Amy (Wayne) Allen; her five grandchildren who were her pride and joy, Brett, Ryan, and Kelsey DeLola and Connor and Emersen Allen; her sisters, Elsie Myers and Ellie Niebell; her brothers, Neil (Helen) Turner and Lynn (Beth) Turner; and many nieces and nephews who held a special place in her heart.  She was predeceased by her brothers, Earl and Harold and her sister, Edna.

The family is establishing a scholarship at Laurens Central School in her memory to be awarded to a student that exemplified the devotion to the community that she demonstrated for so many years. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the scholarship fund at P.O. Box 301 Laurens, NY 13796 or to the Laurens or West Laurens Fire Departments.

Arrangements are with Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta. Condolences can be shared at www.lhpfuneralhome.com .

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.