Mary Doreen Deering

Mary Doreen Deering, beloved mother and grandmother, age 87, a resident of Oakland Township for 5 years and previously from Addison Township, passed away on Monday, March 31, 2014 at the Clarkston Specialty Healthcare Center. Doreen was born November 2, 1926 in Bromley, England, the daughter of Lewis and Ann (Smith) Read. She married William Britz Deering on September 18, 1948 and he preceded her in death on February 13, 2002 She always wanted a large family (a backers dozen). Though she did not reach that goal she did have nine children, seven boys and two girls. Needless to say she treasured the nine she had and never complained that she didn’t have more! She wrote the following: MY WEALTH: Don’t tell me of your stocks and bonds Or of your golden store Though I have little in the bank, I never can be poor. Within my wall are treasures, Nine shining pots of gold, Nine shining gifts from heaven, To earth for me to hold. I’ll hoard them like a miser, And guard them like a king. Go â€" go and count your money, For I have everything. Each one is dear in his own way, Each one wondrous fair. Don’t talk about your cash to me, For I am a millionaire! God gave Doreen the gift of sheparding; becoming a friend and mentor with a big heart who prayed for and took in the unfortunate, downtrodden and brokenhearted. She prayed for them and gave them hope. Doreen was a Christian of strong faith and active in the church. She ran the book table at church as she had a strong interest in helping young believers in their Christian walk and spiritual growth through pamphlets and literature. She also had a strong interest in poetry and constantly wrote short poems about guests and family that she visited. She was member of the Troy poetry club for numerous years. She also wrote a number of books on poetry about her children and their childhood activities (shenanigans) which were often humorous. She also wrote some more serious poems. And example of one of the family favorites is: CROSSES: I know of store where crosses are sold. You also can trade, have new ones for old. For sometimes the cross the that the Lord sends to you Begins to grow heavy, I know this is true. One day I grew weary, my cross couldn’t bear, So into the store I rushed and saw there All manners of crosses, they stood neatly stacked, I surely would find one that had what mine lacked. The storekeeper said with a genial air “Just take off your cross and leave it right there, Try on as you wish”. I looked in his eyes. They were smiling and warm, and oh they were wise. So I looked round the room, and tried two or three, The first ones I tried were too heavy for me. The third one I thought was a fortunate find Till I moved, and I found it was dragging behind The fourth one I looked at was shorter and light. But I was, when I walked, compelled to the right. The fifth one was clumsy, the sixth hard to hold. The Seventh was thorny, the eighth one was cold. But then I found one, and I let out a shout. It fitted just right, I turned all about. It dragged not a bit, nor was cold to the touch, Heavy? A little, for crosses are such. The storekeeper said it fitted me well I asked him the price, then he said, “I can’t sell This cross to you madam,” I felt crushed, bereft. “It’s the one you came in with.” I thanked him and left. Doreen is survived by her children: Janice (Gilbert) Sullivan of Sydney, Australia, Mary Deering of Florida, Lewis (Helen) Deering of Oak Park, Paul Deering of Ireland, Mike (Rose) Deering of Romeo, Kathi Deering-Bradley of Warren, Carl (Jana) Deering of Kalamazoo, Dave Deering of San Francisco, and John Deering of Oakland Twp., along with many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sister Anne Etheridge of California. Mary was preceded in death by her son William H. Deering on September 1, 2009. Funeral services will take place on Friday, April 4 at 11 AM at the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home of Romeo with Pastor Jack Tubbs and Pastor Rob Fisk of the Heart of the Hills Church in Rochester, Michigan. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Addison Township. Visitation will be on Thursday from 2-8 PM. Donations to Angel House would be appreciated. Visitation: Thursday, April 3, 2014 Malburg Funeral Home 11280 32 Mile Road Romeo, Michigan 48065 From 2 - 8 PM Services: Friday, April 4, 2014 11 AM Malburg Funeral Home Interment: Lakeville Cemetery Addison Township, Michigan