Doris J. Pope

1928 - 2023

Doris J. Pope, 95, of Burnside, Illinois, passed away at 1:40 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois.

Doris Jean Hodous was born Jan. 8, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Joe and Ann Langer Hodous.

She was raised in the Chicago area, where she met her husband, W. Mack Pope, at an Army Detachment Center for soldiers in World War II. They were married Sept. 28, 1946, and moved to the family farm north of Adrian, Illinois, where they lived and worked the rest of their lives. Mack passed away in 2003.

Doris was proud to be a farm wife. She helped run the family business, managed a household with love and grace, and mastered gardening and preserving produce. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and an excellent cook and seamstress. She was known for the delicious and ample meals she served for family, farmhands and guests. Everyone was welcome at her table.

Doris was involved in many community activities. She was a member of the Colusa United Methodist Church until it closed, and then attended Appanoose Faith Presbyterian Church, Niota, Illinois. She was a 4-H leader and supporter, a member of Eastern Star, and was active in the Hancock County Farm Bureau, serving as chairman of the women's committee.

She is survived by one son Terry (Gayle) Pope, Burnside; four grandchildren: Hannah (Shawn) Whitaker, Burnside, Lydia (Todd) Ahrens, Hannibal, Missouri, Rebecca (Mike) Sommer, Bloomington, Illinois, and Micah (Johanna) Pope, Champaign, Illinois; two step-granddaughters, Amy (Tyler) Olsen-Highness, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Danielle (Dan) Jennings, Columbia, Missouri; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister Betty (Fred) Lake, Palm Harbor, Florida; a niece and two nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and her daughter-in-law Debbie Pope.

A Celebration of Life will be at Banks & Beals Funeral Home, Dallas City, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 5, with the Rev. Dave Poland presiding.

Visitation will precede the service from 1-3 p.m.

She will be buried at Byler Cemetery, rural Colusa, in a private family service.

Memorials may be given to Hancock County 4-H Foundation, Memorial Hospital Foundation, or the Hancock County Farm Bureau Foundation.

To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Mrs. Pope's obituary at banksandbeals.com.