Doris Mae Durfey, 94, of Chatfield, Minn., passed away on April 13, 2017, at Chosen Valley Care Center at Chatfield.
Doris was born November 2, 1922, to Harry and Eliza (Collins) Eggleston in Grundy County, Iowa. She first attended school in Whitten, Iowa. The family then moved to Herman, Minn. When the family later returned to Iowa, Doris remained in Herman and graduated from Herman High School.
She met her first husband William A. (Bill) Rowen, when he offered to give her a ride to Marshalltown, Iowa, where she was attending business school. Doris and Bill were in September 1943. Throughout their marriage, they lived in various communities in Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. The family was in living in Chatfield when Bill died suddenly in October of 1962.
Doris remarried in June of 1967 to Robert P. (Bob) Durfey. They lived happily on a farm west of Chatfield, until Bob’s death in July of 1988.
Doris was very active in the Order of the Eastern Star and was a member for over 60 years. Her Christian faith was also extremely important to her as evidenced in her many positions within the Chatfield United Methodist Church: Sunday school teacher, church treasurer, choir member, UMW member and officer. Her dedication to the community was evident as a Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, beautification committee member, as well as a member of the Founders Committee of the Chosen Valley Care Center from 1976 to 2011.
Doris is survived by her children from her first marriage: a son, Rev. Dr. William A. (Claire) Rowen, Jr. of Spring Valley, Minn., and a daughter, Patricia L. (Steven) Goldsmith of Chatfield, Minn.; three grandsons: Christopher W. (Suzette) Rowen of Rochester, Minn., Robert A. (Katie) Goldsmith of Chatfield, Minn., and Benjamin R. (Jen) Goldsmith of Long Prairie, Minn.; five great-granddaughters: Emma Rowen, and Evelyn, Julia, Sophia and Adelia Goldsmith; one brother, L.R. (Patricia) Eggleston of Golden Valley, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and her two husbands.
The visitation was held Monday, April 17, 2017, at Chatfield United Methodist Church from 4-7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service. Celebration of death and resurrection was Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at the Chatfield United Methodist Church at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Chatfield United Methodist Church or to the Minnesota Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Arrangements were handled by Riley Funeral Home of Chatfield, Minn.