Doris “Dorie” Mae Bilgman Davis, age 90, of Franklin, TN, went home to be with the Lord on April 28th, 2024, after complications suffered from a fall at home. Dorie was born on October 10, 1933, in Oak Park, Illinois to George Christopher and Alice Murphy Bilgman, who saw to it that she was baptized into the Catholic faith.
Dorie’s childhood was full of fond memories of time spent with family – especially her cousins Margie and Jamie, and her brother, John. The family business – Illinois Herb Company – not only supported many family members but also provided a source for more wonderful family times by allowing them to purchase a boat and spend summers at the Chain O’Lakes in northeastern Illinois. These happy memories would sustain Dorie throughout her life, even after losing her mother when she was only 15 years old.
After marrying her high school sweetheart, Chuck, in 1953, the two traveled to Mississippi and Louisiana while Chick served his country in the USAF. After Chuck was discharged from the Air Force, they returned home to Chicago and several years later were blessed with two children. Dorie and Chuck’s love story was one for the movies: they were married for 25 years, separated for 25 years, and then reunited again until Chuck’s passing in 2017.
Dorie loved to read, but even more than that she loved to talk. She had a way of getting pertinent information not only from family but also from perfect strangers! Despite suffering from severe lung disease for the last ten years of her life, she was blessed to always be able to catch her breath long enough to talk. Dorie quite frequently would repeat her father’s favorite saying, “keep the faith”. She did and our family will also until we are all reunited once again in heaven.
Dorie is survived be her two children, Robert Davis, and Nancy (Mike) Vesely; three grandchildren: Jessica (Rocklin) Reeves, Julia (Brian) Green, and Samuel (Kathryn) Vesely; two great-grandchildren: Nevaeh and Rocklin Reeves; cousin Margaret Abbott; and a niece, Kathy (Rob) Jarka.
The family would like to thank Father Gervan Menezes for administering Last Rites to Dorie to prepare her soul for the journey to eternal life; we would also like to thank all those who prayed, visited, and cared for her in her final days.
Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Darien, Illinois, Friday, May 3rd at 10:00am. Entombment will be at Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in Hillside, IL.
