Doris Homan

Doris D. Homan of Jensen Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2026. After a hard-fought battle with cancer, she died at home surrounded by family.

Doris was born on January 6, 1942, to Orlan Clair and Mary Ann (Bandy) Denny. From the beginning, her parents and sister Carol doted on Doris and introduced her to a joyful life that blended family, friends, and the family business, Purity Dairy. Doris loved growing up in the bucolic setting of rural Ohio. She enjoyed spending summer days swimming in the backyard pool her father built, skating as her dog chased her on the iced-over pool, or helping her parents in the dairy store.

Doris never considered the dairy as work, rather she saw that time as special moments spent alongside her parents. Over the summers, she worked in the ice cream room, where she made ice cream bars, fudge bars, and popsicles by hand. Long after those days, she continued to love ice cream and found that an ice cream shop reminded her of dipping ice cream at the dairy. She adored eating the peanut buster parfait or sharing a banana split (without the banana) at Dairy Queen with her husband, Gary.

In high school, Doris played clarinet in band, traveling to football games and taking trips to perform. She also participated in National Honor Society, prom committees, and service clubs. She graduated in 1960 from Sebring McKinley High School as valedictorian.

After high school, she attended Mount Union College (now University of Mount Union), which was close to home and allowed her to take summer classes to graduate early in 1963. She studied elementary education and pursued her childhood dream of being a teacher. Prior to her first teaching job, Doris spent one month at a summer work camp in Wales, managed by the World Council of Churches. This first time abroad remained one of her most important experiences, as it allowed her to discover world travel, develop her personal independence, and strengthen her connection to God.

After her travels, she taught in Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, and Maryland. Her full-time teaching jobs eventually transitioned to long-term substitute positions. She considered it an honor to educate the next generation, teaching skills they would need to succeed.

In addition to teaching, Doris always wanted to become a wife and mother. She reached that goal when she met Gary Homan at a Purity Dairy picnic. Her parents had bought the Homan Dairy and continued to employ Charles Homan, Gary's father. Their first meeting led to long distance dating while Gary was in graduate school at the University of Illinois. Once Doris lined up a teaching job in Illinois, they decided to get married. While a practical decision, it led to 58 years together in a loving marriage.

In their time together, Doris and Gary each earned graduate degrees; raised two beautiful daughters; lived and worked in five states; and traveled throughout four continents. They always believed in finding adventure far away while keeping close ties to those at home.

As a mother, Doris enjoyed attending every school function and supporting each daughter's interests, whether sponsoring the German Club, helping with Girl Scouts, or serving as a volunteer for band trips or school trips. She always cheered her daughters from the audience and invited their friends over to the house to celebrate after a victory or even a defeat.

She valued creating a caring and well-decorated home that welcomed friends and neighbors. She knew any store could hold a new treasure that would fit beautifully in her house or look elegant at her next party. She enjoyed cooking and baking, with her hash brown casserole, a popular dish every holiday season or her frosted cookies making the rounds each Christmas. She believed every gift deserved a thank you card, and holidays were meant for Hallmark, whether sending cards or watching holiday romances.

Doris faithfully attended church at Glen Mar United Methodist in Ellicott City, Maryland. After Doris and Gary moved to Florida, she dedicated herself to the Nettles Island Church, which she attended for as long as her health would allow.  On Nettles Island, she found more friends and new clubs to join, including the Nettles Island Theater Guild, Yacht Club, and the Women's Club.

Those who knew Doris cherish their memories of her as a trusted confidante, a strong and generous spirit, and a determined fighter through the pain of cancer and for those she loved.

Doris leaves behind her adoring husband, Gary; daughters, Elizabeth Homan (Keven Waters) and Jill Homan (Kalea Texeira); and grandchildren, John-Mark and Ronan Waters, and Alexandra and Kaimana Homan. Her parents, Orlan and Mary Ann Denny, and her sister, Carol Barnett, preceded her in death. She will forever rest alongside her beloved parents and sister at Highland Memorial Park in Beloit, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to consider a donation to one of these charitable organizations that were close to her heart: Nettles Island Church (947 SE Jensen Blvd. Jensen Beach, FL 34957) and Nettles Island Theater Guild Scholarship Fund (c/o 2015 Nettles Island Boulevard, Jensen Beach, FL 34957).

A Service will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Bethel United Church of Christ, 25701 Buck Rd. Beloit, Ohio at 1:00 PM, with Pastor Jerry Kruse officiating, a luncheon to follow.