Dorothy Feris

[Forrest Barber]

It is with another tear in my eye that I report Mrs. Dorothy Feris ( the mother of light aviation) passed away yesterday Dec. 16th, 2004 at 8PM. Dorothy had been living at Oaks of Burridge, Burridge, Ill. for over one year.
Dorothy had been suffering from the dreaded Alzheimers that has claimed so many. This is only a first report , more as I get it. Herb Feris and older son Tim will be in contact. Herb Feris is living at 32 S. Wilmette Westmont, Ill. 60599 630 963 5638 .
The Funeral home is Modell Funeral Home , 7710 Cass Ave. Darien, Ill. 60561 630 852 3595 ( no web address) calling Hours Mon. Dec 20th from 2PM to 9PM. Funeral services will be Tues Dec 21st, 10AM .... I will send obit electronically when I get it. Please try to attend if possible. Use this forumn to send messages that I will get to the family. More soon , I have to be away about three hours. Will report on Bruce too!!

bye "Boss" we do miss you!! Now you can look down upon all those fine F-19's that you and Charlie built for us here in Alliance...

[Chet Peek]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Forrest, please extend my sincere condolences to the family. The aviation world should be in mourning; another legend has left us, never to be replaced.
Chet Peek

[Robert Lees]

Re: Dorothy Feris

That is very sad news indeed, Forrest.

Perhaps someone attending the funeral service would be so kind as to act for me (and indeed all the UK Taylorcraft gang), and pass on our sympathies to the family. On Tuesday I will be thinking of Dorothy and the tremendous work she did.

Rob Lees
England

[Dick Smith]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Forrest, It was my privilege to meet Mrs. Feris in the EAA Taylorcraft Tent in 1991. She was very warm and gracious. When I mentioned being from Alaska, she immediately responded by naming a number of the Tribe who hailed from up here. Please express sympathies from the Alaskan bunch to her family and friends, as there are over 200 Taylorcrafts up here, including, I believe, more F-19's than in any other state. Dick

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Dorothy Feris

God Bless one and all! Lets keep these kind words & condolenses going on this thread , it will be checked upon by the family. I will see they get a written copy in a couple of weeks.
The obit did not get here from Illinois....I will post ASAP. Herb called again and the family will have many photos & those favorite ships of Dorothy placed all around the casket. The Foundation will be sending flowers from one & all. Barber Aircraft too! I am faxing to them a tribute to be read during the service. bye again Forrest ....

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Here is the fresh copy from the Obit sent out from the Funeral home. I will add to it for the Alliance-Review here in Alliance, Oh. This came in too late to hit our Sat. paper......Chris at the Funeral home had to re key to me, she did a great job. She even knew about the "Chicken Basket" where Dorothy used to work as a young mother in Hinsdale. Dorothy took many a person back there for the "best Chicken ever" still there on Route 66. They ALL loved her....

Dorothy A. Feris, nee Slanec, beloved wife of the late Charles; loving
mother of Herbert, and Timothy (Caryn); cherished grandmother of Kristin,
Ryan, Jamie, Lindsay, Melissa and Beau; great-grandmother of four; dearest
sister of the late Thomas (the late Norma) Slanec and Violet (the late John)
Leesley; companion and best friend of Miles Kilianek. Visitation Monday 2
to 9 p.m. at Modell Funeral Home, 7710 S. Cass Ave., Darien where a funeral
service will be held Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Interment Clarendon Hills
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to Vitas Hospice would be
appreciated. 630-852-3595.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Dorothy Feris

I have never had the pleasure to meet Mrs. Feris, but I HAVE had the extreme pleasure to admire the fine examples of aeronautical craftsmanship that she is responsable for gracing this planet with.
She has placed the wind beneath the wings of many aircraft, and, in so doing, has given the wings to the hearts of many pilots.
Sabrina Hill
1940 BC-65
Ser. # 2302
NC 27660

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Just talked with Tim Feris , the younger son, Herb the oldest had worked at the Factory here in Alliance. Tim will read these comments at the Wake so please tell us your times with Dorothy on this thread. I will be away till 1-2Pm today. Lets do it!!

[Tom Baker]

Re: Dorothy Feris

I Made A Trip To The Factory In85 Mrs. Feris Took The Time To Show My Friend And Myself Around The Plant A Super Nice Lady.sorry To Here Of Her Passing We All Must Go Sometime. Tom Baker Nc29654 Nc18345 # 25

[crispy critter]

Re: Dorothy Feris

My father said I met her once at an airshow somewhere in Ohio or Indiana.She was helping with consseions and she gave me a pop,icecream,and a kiss on the cheek.I just wish I had been old enough to remember her(my dad said I was about 4 years old at the time).My father has always spoke very highly of her and he had the pleasure of meeting her several times.She will be missed even by some who never(or can't remember)meeting her.
My heart and prayers go out to her family and friends.

[robbie]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Made a trip to the factory in 83 when i was restoring n44338 for parts.
I meant Dorothy and she showed me around ,told me what parts I needed and help me with the questions I had.
She was a great lady and one of the great Taylorcraft people I have come to know
over the past 24 years. That's the reason I've had this plane for 24 years.
Meant her again in 90 or 91 at Oshkosh
God bless her.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Sunday morning , this just in from John Polychron a former owner of Taylorcraft. I e-mailed back to him about adding to the list directly and told him about Darrell being in a nursing home but doing well. ( Darrell was the engineer for Taylorcraft under a few owners)

Dear Forest,
I just learned that Dorothy passed away. I want to express my condolences to her family. While I met her only once she was obviously the great lady everyone described her to be.
After Taylorcraft I bought the flight school from Piedmont Aviation here in Winston-Salem.I sold the flight school in June 2001 and just missed the hit that aviation took after 9/11. Also I lost interest in flying and sold N222UK to Mike Renforth who saw my ad in TAP. Mike worked for Darus in Morgantown . He went on to med school and is now a physician in Virginia. Is Darrel Romick still alive? I had great respect for him.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Dorothy Feris

I will attempt to attach some pics: first a big file but a good one... Osh 1975
Charlie, Dorothy & C.G. Taylor

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Bob Ollerton got my picture posted, I have many more and will put together a tribute to Dorothy on the main web site. Bruce Bixler is doing well, sitting up and playing with Grandkids this evening. WE can all add to this forumn PLUS sign a Guestbook at www.chicagotribune.com go to 12-19-04 Obituaries then search for Feris.... Or perhaps this gets you there directly:

http://www.legacy.com/chicagotribune/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=2940426

bye Forrest off to plow snow

[Robert Lees]

Re: Dorothy Feris

Forrest: try converting the bitmaps to .jpg format...much better for internet transmittal.

Rob