Doris Louise Bickford-Swarthout

Doris Louise Bickford-Swarthout
DEANSBORO – Doris Louise Bickford-Swarthout, 90, passed away peacefully at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital on Thursday, August 5, 2021.
Born in Utica, daughter of Maurice Arthur Bickford and Mildred Mace, Doris was raised in and lived most of her young life in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and always considered that beautiful central Pennsylvania area as her home.
After graduation and a stint as a magazine model in New York City, Doris returned to upstate New York, becoming registrar at Colgate University, where she met her future husband, Dirk Swarthout. Dirk's teaching profession first took the couple to Freeport, Long Island, where son, Douglas, was born in 1956. Again, preferring the country life, the family moved back upstate, briefly to New Hartford, then soon settling into a 32-acre farm in Deansboro.
Doris had a multitude of interests: one, operating the Berry Hill Book Shop from its establishment in 1968 for its first decade, before Dirk retired from teaching and Douglas graduated to become full-time proprietor. She continued as co-owner of the business the rest of her life, traveling to book fairs and working in the bookshop, but somehow also found time to express her literary talents as author of four books: "An Age of Flowers: Nature, Sense & Sentiment in Victorian America," "The Best of Times 1870-1915: Heritage Gardening at Cradle Knoll Farm," "Mary Hallock Foote, Pioneer Woman Illustrator," and "Rudy Vallee, a Pictorial Biography." At the time of her passing, she was extensively involved in another of her passions – genealogy – writing an extensive history of the Bickford, Mace, Stevens, Allen, Pewterbaugh, etc. families back to pre-colonial days.
Doris' life-long love of nature was evident to any visitor when they saw her magnificent bushes of old roses and carefully cultivated berries. And her love of animals was limitless, being a member of numerous humane societies and animal rescue organizations. More than 100 cats, mostly cast-offs and strays, over the years called Doris "mother," as well as a half-dozen dogs, a number of bunnies and even one enormous lazy horse, Snowball. Her flock of exotic chickens were spoiled as well, laying eggs only when they chose. Her main regret towards the end was being unable to get around to visit and take care of and pamper all her cats each day as she had always done.
Doris is survived by her son, Douglas; daughter, Dawn and her husband, Phong and their two sons, John and Tommy Swarthout; granddaughter, Monique; brother, Arthur Bickford; sister, Gertrude Sacco; cousins, Ruth Melvin, Kenneth Todd and Kimberly Todd.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Doris' name to Spring Farm Cares or Clinton Pet Vet Rescue Sanctuary.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, August 11, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Paul Funeral Home, 3592 South Street, Madison.
For online memories or expressions of sympathy, please go to paulfuneralhome.net.