OTEGO – Doris L. Valentine, 92, of Otego, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at Otsego Manor, just outside of Cooperstown, where she has been a resident since February 2007.

Doris was born on October 31, 1917 in Oneonta, the daughter of Lee O. Stalker and Grace (Gustin) Stalker.

Dode graduated from Oneonta High School in 1935. She enjoyed many sports during her high school years. She got interested in target shooting with a bow and arrow.

Dode was employed at the Electrical Components Division of Bendix, now Amphenol, in Sidney for 39 years. While at Bendix, she worked in the plating room and was coil winder for many years. Then she passed a Navy test and became a silver brazier. Dode was elected by her union peers to become a shop steward. She worked very hard to improve the working conditions for the union members for a number of years.

Doris married Kenneth J. Valentine on December 12, 1971. They lived on a working dairy/beef farm on the back road of Otego while continuing to work at Bendix. Dode enjoyed helping Ken milk the cows and she drove the tractor sometimes in the hay fields. Dode had a large vegetable garden and she loved to cook, can, and freeze all the wonderful vegetables from their garden. Dode and Ken enjoyed hunting deer up in the woods behind their house. Her beloved husband, Ken, died in December 1984. She continued to live on the farm alone until February 2007.

Dode worked for the town of Otego on the planning board for many years. She was also very active in the Democratic party in Otego.

Dode loved being with her family. She enjoyed playing with her grandchildren, Scott and Shari, when they were little. When they grew up and got married and had children of their own, she loved being with her great grandchildren, Kate, Michelle, Sean and Jessica. In 2008, she became a great-great grandmother to Isabella Marie Harris. She loved family get-togethers and picnics. We will all miss her so much.

Doris worked hard all her life. She was very honest with everyone. She let you know exactly how she felt about you and your opinions. She wrote many letters to politicians to let them know how she felt about their policies.

We would like to thank Jim Winchester and Doug Brown for plowing the way for an ambulance to make it to Mom's house on the Otsdawa Road and then all the way to Oneonta during a huge snowstorm on February 14, 2007. Thank you also to the Otego Emergency squad, Ed Horan, Carol and Stacy Atcher for helping mother survive that night on the way to the hospital.

We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and aides in the emergency room at A.O. Fox Hospital for the wonderful care of our mother when she was admitted with a massive heart attack and hypothermia. They did a fantastic job saving her. Thank you to the doctors, nurses and aides for the gentle care while she was in the hospital for 9 days recovering from her ordeal.

A big thank you to the wonderful, caring and professional staff at Otsego Manor for the wonderful care of Doris these last 3 years. They provided the residents with many special events to make their lives enjoyable.

We would also like to thank the very special people at Catskill Area Hospice for all the support, kindness, and help to the family as well as the extra loving care of mother.

Thank you also to the nurses, aides and doctors at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown who helped her recover from hip replacement surgery on February 1, 2010. They did a wonderful job making her safe and comfortable.

Doris was predeceased by her son, Richard John McHale Jr. in 2001.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Susan J. McDonough and her son-in-law, Mr. William E. McDonough of Oneonta; her grandson, Mr. Scott McDonough and her great granddaughters, Kate and Michelle, of New Hartford, NY; her granddaughter, Mrs. Shari McDonough Harris, and her husband, Michael Harris, her great grandson, Sean and her great granddaughter, Jessica, of Cumming, Georgia. She also has a great-great granddaughter, Isabelle Marie Harris. Mother has a step-great granddaughter, Jami Harris Force and her husband, David and their son, Trey, of Gladstone, Missouri. Doris is also survived by many of her in-laws on the Valentine side of the family, a brother and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours. A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery, Oneonta.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Doris's name may be directed to: Otsego Manor, Activities Fund, 128 Phoenix Mills Cross Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326, Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, Otego Emergency Squad, 5 River Street, Otego, NY 13825, Otego Fire Department, 5 River Street, Otego, NY 13825 or the charity of ones choice.

To send an online condolences visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com

The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, is serving the family.