Doris A. Stout

Doris Ann(e) Stout (nee Peterson) ,92, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2025.

Doris was a storyteller. She told the story of her how parents, Mervin and Helen Peterson, waited to name her Doris Ann(e) (Doris later added the extra "fancier" E herself!) until several days following her birth on November 11, 1933, only after fully realizing that they HAD been truly blessed with a healthy girl baby. Her mother, grateful for all their answered prayers, dressed her precious girl in blue and white in dedication to Jesus's mother Mary. (That devotion was carried on by Doris, who prayed countless rosaries as her faith sustained her through life's peaks and valleys.)

There were many stories to tell about all her friends and family, starting at her home base on Ridgecroft Road in Baltimore. Doris told the stories of her neighborhood group of girlfriends, of picking up ice cream from the little store down the street to share with her father after he would come home from a long day of work at Peterson's 33rd and Greenmount Esso Station , of riding the streetcar home with her new puppy, Bootsie, hidden in her bag, (the first of many beloved dogs, most recently including sweet Millie) of her Uncle Ed appearing at the hospital when she broke her arm, of her mother's cry of joy when her brother, Pete (Buddy), called to say he was coming home from the war, of her piano lessons and St. Anthony's grade school, and of getting that much treasured driving license and a car which she and her mother- who did not drive- enjoyed traveling in together around town.

She was an Institute of Notre Dame (IND) girl ("We are the girls of the institute…") and made more lifelong friends from her school years there. While attending from 5th to 12th grade she enjoyed playing basketball (watch those mighty elbows!) and participating as a member of the Glee Club, Commercial Club, and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin. She was described in her yearbook as "inspirational, easily enthused, cold hand, warm heart, vigorous, and an ice cream connoisseur." (It was a fitting lifelong description!)

She recalled with fondness her days at the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore and the friends she made there, as well as her secretarial jobs. She liked to recount how she advised one of her young bosses to pray "The Memorare" (prayer to Mary) when he couldn't work out a problem. She enjoyed reminiscing about meeting her future husband, Jim Stout, at a CYO dance. "Our parents did not want us to get married so young ", she remembered "but Pop Gross (Jim's grandfather) said, 'Let them be married!'".

Doris and Jim were happily married for 71 years. Jim always appreciated how lucky he was to have Doris for his wife and reveled in their life together. Jim told his own story describing how his colleagues ribbed him for being what they called "hen-pecked." After meeting Doris for the first time at a McCormick party Jim related how they changed their tune saying "Now we know why you don't mind being 'hen-pecked!'".

Doris shared her stories of newly married life and of welcoming their babies. She and Jim were thrilled to be first time parents when they welcomed their son James III into the world. When they lived in New Jersey (fulfilling Jim's Army Reserve requirement) their apartment was right next to the train tracks which rattled baby Jimmy's crib every night. Nancy and Janice, who were born 15 months apart, were the next additions to the growing family. Doris remembered praying that if she was fortunate enough to have two girls born so close in age, that they would not only be sisters but close friends (and they are!) She fondly recalled Jim greeting her with astonishment saying "Have you seen that baby?" after first viewing blue-eyed strawberry blond baby Daniel through the nursery window.

Doris worked hard to make a warm and welcoming home for her family. When her children were young, they soon learned that every outing with their mother would involve lots of enthusiastic greetings from all those who were lucky enough to cross paths with Doris. She shared her charm and light with everyone she met - her beautiful blue eyes, and her welcoming smile always brightening everyone's day. She was also an avid shopper throughout her life which provided even more opportunity for strangers and acquaintances alike to enjoy those chance encounters.

Doris cherished spending time with her 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, who she always made feel very special (and with whom she enjoyed playing card games, sharing her personal stories as well as those from the books and movies she enjoyed, and hearing about THEIR lives.) She was thankful for her many lifelong blessings, including all of her family, friends and neighbors.

We know we have also been blessed to have Doris Ann(e) in our lives and we are grateful for all the ways she shared her stories, her care, her faith, and her love.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Stella Maris Chapel in Timonium, MD., on Friday, December 19th at 11AM. Private interment to follow at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Baltimore Humane Society.