Doris Marie O'Neil

Born on November 10, 1936, in Wolf Creek, West Virginia, to James Luther Bennett and Jewel Elouise (Ballengee), Doris grew up on Flat Top Mountain with her parents and five siblings. Her long walk to school—over the river and through the woods—sparked a lifelong love of walking. She continued walking miles each day until shortly before her passing on December 17, 2025.

Doris graduated from Alderson High School in 1955. She split her time between Ronceverte, West Virginia, and Zephyrhills, Florida, and at the time of her passing, she was the longest-tenured resident of Hunters Run in Zephyrhills. Doris was well known by neighbors in both West Virginia and Florida for her daily walks and bike rides.

She was a faithful member of Fort Spring Missionary Baptist Church in Ronceverte and New Hope Baptist Church in Zephyrhills. Doris loved God with all her heart and had a deep passion for bluegrass praise and worship music. In her later years, some of her most cherished moments were spent attending bluegrass festivals with her niece, Sharon Lemmons Moody.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Grant O’Neil; her son, Ronald Lee Hahn; her great-granddaughter, Maryanna Kathryn Wiacek; her grandniece, Beth Thompson; her brothers, Cecil (Betty) and Lee Bennett; her sisters, Delphia Lemmons (Calvin) and Mary Carol Carter (Lloyd); and nephew Jimmy Bennett.

She is survived by her brother, Carl Bennett (Wanda) of Louisa, VA; her son, James Robert Hahn (Lynette) of Lansing, MI; her stepson, Dennis Grant O’Neil (Sherry) of Pueblo, CO; ten grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; her dear friends, Henry and Debbie Loudermilk; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring at Fort Spring Missionary Baptist Church in Ronceverte, West Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fort Spring Missionary Baptist Church in Ronceverte, West Virginia, or to Sparrow Hospice of Lansing.