Doris Woodstock

Doris Fern Jones Woodstock of Independence, Missouri, passed away January 21, 2014 in Independence, Missouri. Doris was born October 25, 1917 in Coleman, Michigan, to Phoebe Baker Jones and Samuel Appleton Shepard Jones, one of eight children. She graduated from Midland Michigan High School. At a church reunion in Michigan she met Lyle Wildermuth Woodstock where his father, appointee C. B. Woodstock, was providing ministry. They married in Independence at the Woodstock home in 1937 with Paul Craig officiating. While in Independence Doris started the Oriole page program at the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital and worked in Bluebird and Oriole camping. When Lyle served overseas in the Navy in WWII, Doris and their daughter Gail spent a year at Graceland College, where Doris attended classes and served as a resident hall dorm mother. After the war, Lyle accepted appointment in the Community of Christ, a family commitment. Doris and Lyle were actively engaged in church work with youth and adults through the camping program in all the years under appointment and both received the Community of Christ World Community International Youth Service Award at World Conference in 1980. Her leadership in camp and reunion campfires is especially notable. Funded by the United Methodist Church Women of Missouri, she spent a week at the United Nations studying third world development and participating with embassies there. Doris supported Lyle’s work as Ontario Regional Administrator, co-leading a wide array of youth camps and reunions at the Erie Beach, Port Elgin and Monetville campgrounds. Together with George and Elizabeth Brett, Doris and Lyle began a primitive camping program and campgrounds known as “Ziontario.” She was continually teaching adults and youth and providing leadership in many locations. Doris began employment as a social worker supporting foster families for the State of Massachusetts while Lyle served the New England district. She was an advocate for the first “ Adoption Week “ in the nation and was a signatory when then Governor Michael Dukakis declared the week in 1976 to bring attention to the thousands of children without permanent homes. After Lyle retired in 1976, Doris completed a Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas and after graduation was a staff member for the Independence Sanitarium PREP program under Dr. Charles Mader. Following that she began “ Foster Family Ministries” (FFM) in Kansas City through the ecumenical inner-city ministry at the Harold Thomas Center founded by Presbyterian minister Hans Frick. She was director of this agency until her retirement in 2002, supporting many foster families through education and therapy. Treasured events during these years was a trip to the Holy Land and singing in the Messiah Choir. Doris was ordained an elder while a member of the Stone Church congregation where she continued to serve as long as she was able. At Stone Church, she began and facilitated an interdenominational Cancer Support Group for over two-decades. She was a chaplain for the church hospital and the Groves Retirement Center. She is survived by her three children, Gail Woodstock, of the home, Catherine Woodstock Striley (Fred) of Gainesville, Florida, and Charles Woodstock, (Marilyn) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great -grandchild, as well as many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service for friends and family will be held at the Stone Church, January 25, 2014, at 2:00 P.M. followed by a private family service at Mound Grove. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Stone Church Trust Fund or Outreach International. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Carson-Speaks Chapel 816-252-7900)