Eleanor Doyle, 92, of Farmington and Gaylord (Guthrie Lakes) passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015. She died at Aspen Ridge in Gaylord where she resided after an injury during the summer of 2014 forced her to abandon her dream of living in her own home to the very end of her life.

Eleanor was born in Detroit on August 8, 1922. She graduated from Mackenzie High School in Detroit and continued her education at Hillsdale College in Michigan. She married her high school and college sweetheart, Louis Doyle on May 13, 1944 at Fort Street Presbyterian Church. When World War II ended, they made their way back to Detroit where they raised three daughters: Janet, Barbara, and Patricia. They moved to Downtown Farmington in 1961.

Eleanor was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington, a member of the Farmington Garden Club and she enjoyed ceramics and cake decorating.

When Chrysler Corporation offered Lou a transfer to England in 1970, they began a new adventure. Since their daughters were grown, they took advantage of every opportunity to travel to countries in Europe, northern Africa and even some islands family members had to look up on a map. Their daughters visited them during the summer months in London and Coventry until their return to Farmington in 1975.

In 1976 Eleanor and Lou built a vacation home in Guthrie Lakes, south of Gaylord, where they spent many weeks each year. They bought a snowmobile and zipped along trails in the woods of northern Michigan. Next, they bought a pontoon boat and Eleanor was the designated "captain" on the waters of Guthrie Lake. They made many wonderful friendships in the years together at the lake.

When Lou died in 2001, Eleanor was devastated, but continued to live in Farmington during the winters and at the lake during the summers. By that time, two of their three daughters also had homes near their vacation home and could look after Eleanor. She was fiercely independent and determined to live on her own terms. But accidents happen, and in August, 2014, she took a fall that landed her in rehab and then in assisted living. She finally allowed others to take care of her and found out she could smile with the wonderful aides and nurses at Aspen Ridge and Hospice. When she took her last breath on Tuesday afternoon, she was ready to go. Her body had served her well and she had lived life to the last moment.

In addition to Eleanor's three daughters, Janet (Bob) Hamer, Barbara (Jim) Herman and Pat (Glenn) Breuhan, she will be missed by her six grandchildren: Rob Herman, Katie Herman Kearney, Heidi Breuhan, Pete Breuhan, Chris Breuhan and Jeff Breuhan. She also leaves behind five great-grandchildren: Shaine, Sielle, Isabella, Natalia and Ava.

Arrangements are through Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington. Visitation is on Friday from 4-9 PM and the funeral is Saturday at 11 AM at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia.



In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Michigan or Otsego Country Animal Shelter.