Doris R. (Keel) Benson

Doris R. Benson Athol -- Doris R. (Keel) Benson, 96, of Sportsman's Pond, died Monday, May 30, 2011 at Applewood Home for Elders surrounded by her loving family. Doris was born in Cobham, Surrey, England on December 14, 1914, the daughter of Francis A. and Elizabeth (Woollett) Keel. After spending her early childhood in England, she immigrated with her family to the United States in 1922 when she was eight years old, entering through Ellis Island. The family lived in a tent on the lawn of an uncle's home in Peterborough, New Hampshire, for their first year in America. The family later moved to Ashby, Massachusetts, where they lived for several years.  Doris graduated from Ashby High School in 1932. Shortly thereafter, Doris moved to Athol, where she took a clerical position with the Union Twist Drill Co. in 1934. She married Kenneth E. Benson of Orange, Massachusetts, in July 1940 and bore her only child, Karen (Benson) Quinn, in 1943. Doris proudly became a naturalized U.S. citizen in September, 1941. Kenneth and Doris left Athol in 1951, spending time in New Hampshire and Florida, before returning to Athol in 1957, when they opened and operated Benson's Variety, a popular shop located on Main Street in Athol. After selling the business in 1963, Doris and Kenneth remained in Athol, and Doris held a variety of positions, culminating with a career at the Athol office of the Massachusetts Welfare Office, from which she retired in 1979. Doris would always lend a helping hand to anyone in need, and she worked for the American Red Cross Bloodmobile for many years. She also was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Orange, the Sportsman's Pond Association, the Athol Historical Society, and the Athol Quota Club, where she coordinated the annual "Mitten Tree", knitting countless mittens herself.  Doris always said her favorite sport was dancing. While operating the variety store, she made hundreds of pies, which were appreciated greatly by her patrons.  Besides baking, she loved to knit and work on crossword puzzles, but, most especially, she enjoyed pleasing and spending time with her beloved family. Kenneth, her husband of 65 years, died in 2006. Doris leaves her daughter, Karen Quinn, who resides with her husband David in Niantic, Connecticut; five grandchildren, Scott Perekslis and his wife Terri, Sharyl Panyard and her husband Crispin, Patrick Quinn and his fiancee Hollie, Megan Stocks and her husband Ashly, and Elizabeth Quinn; and five great-grandchildren. She also leaves a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gordon and Helen Benson of Natick, Massachusetts; four nephews, Kristofer Benson,  Barry Hoehn, Bill Haskell, and Bob Haskell; and two nieces, Diane Loken and Jane Benson. She was predeceased by her two sisters, Nancy I. Haskell and Joan P. Hoehn. A private burial service will be held on Wednesday, June 1. Calling hours will be held at Higgins-O'Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Wednesday, June 1.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Gardner VNA Hospice Program, 34 pearly Lane, Gardner, MA  01440 or the Athol Public Library, Children’s program, 568 Main St., Athol, MA  01331 For further information, or to share a memory with the family, please go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });