Doris Emma [Dickerson] Newman, 76, passed away in her sleep in the early morning of January 26, 2021 at Norwalk Memorial Home.  In recent years, she had battled through three strokes and a heart attack, but she was resilient carrying a smile on her face and a wink in her eye until her last, dying day.

Born in Norwalk, Doris was a feisty, smart, opinionated, ferociously funny woman who was extremely loyal to her friends and family. She was generous to a fault and gave to those she believed in, sometimes to the detriment of her own well-being.

Smart as a whip, Doris was the valedictorian of her high school and undergraduate college classes in Norwalk High School in 1962 and Ashland College in 1966, respectively.  She got a Master's Degree in Education from Miami University, and went on to become a lifetime teacher in and out of the classroom.

Doris married and divorced her husband, George Charles Newman fairly soon after having a son, Brad together.  After that, she returned to Norwalk where she would build a career and a life with her son, supporting his dreams while capturing a few of her own.  She was the campaign manager for the late mayor, Tom Cochran, a man and Democrat she believed in, though she was a lifelong card-carrying Republican.

Doris taught 6th grade at Western Reserve in Collins, Ohio and later 11th – 12th grade English and Government at Pioneer Joint Vocational School in Shelby, Ohio.  Like the Mad Hatter, she was always late and drove down route 61 as if it was Norwalk Raceway Park, scaring every pigeon along the way.  She collected speeding tickets like trading cards and knew the Smokey's as she liked to call them by their first names.

Teaching was her passion and she enjoyed challenging and influencing the minds of young people until she was struck down with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that attacked her in her mid-20s, forcing her to learn how to walk and write with her non-dominant left hand.  But in her late 30s, the disease had taken a firmer grip on her legs and her nerves took a considerable punch too.  It all became too much for her and Doris retired from teaching in her early 40s, and would turn much of her attention on to her son and his family.

A single mother, Brad became the light and the focus of most of her life.  A bright woman who failed Home Ec, Doris and her son became fixtures at Berry's Restaurant where they ate dinner every night.  She got him involved in Towne & Country Players as a child and watched every single theatre production he was in.  As any parent knows, this was a gigantic feat because unlike sports the outcome was very much the same every night. But there she was ushering and selling candy so she could sit in the back row hoping her cackling laugh could be heard on stage.  It landed every time.

Later she sent her son off to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, a boarding school where he began to pursue acting.  This was an incredible sacrifice to her.  She squirreled away more than half of her salary so he could attend, a fact she kept very private.  Doris did without her usual comforts to give her son an opportunity of a lifetime.

In the sunset of her life, she was a devoted grandmother and often visited her son's family in South Orange, NJ.  She became a part of his extended family in the area and a welcome presence at Christmas gatherings.  Her favorite time of year, Doris had a custom of keeping a Christmas tree up 365 days a year and liked to treat her family to the holiday by showering them with gifts in the middle of summer with an event she called "Christmas in July."

Doris was an absolute warrior and resilient to the end.  She will be missed by her friends and family who adored her.

Survivors include her son, Brad; a daughter-in-law Jackie; and grandchildren Zoe Frances and Schuyler Harriett Newman.  She is also survived by a cousin Marilyn Smith in Marion, OH.

She was preceded in death by her parents Elsworth and Harriett [Smith] Dickerson, and her brother Dale.

A memorial celebration, and internment, will be held on August 7, 2021 at Woodlawn Cemetery for Doris Emma [Dickerson] Newman, beginning at 11 a.m. The planned celebration of her life for her loyal friends and family will be conducted by her loving son Brad Newman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Norwalk High School Drama Department, 350 Shady Lane Drive, Norwalk, OH 44857.  She performed in her senior play in high school and her love of theatre shined bright throughout her entire life.  Online condolences maybe expressed by visiting www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com