Nicole Rae Doerr

Nicole Rae Doerr passed away unexpectedly early in the morning on Sunday April 2nd, 2023, from a pulmonary embolism.  She was in Niagara, New York doing something that she loved: judging a dance competition. She is survived by her mother Sally J. Doerr of Northville, her dad John Doerr and stepmother Barb Doerr of Cass City and step-sister Samantha, her Grandma Mary Ann Porritt of Wisconsin, her Aunt Valerie and Uncle Gary of Wisconsin, her boyfriend and soulmate Matt McCullock of Northville, along with many Aunts, Uncles, cousins, dance family and dance students. Nicole is proceeded in death by her step-brother Cory.

Nicole Rae Doerr was born on July 22nd, 1982 at Huron Memorial Hospital in Bad Axe, Michigan. Her mother loved how musically Nicole Rae Doerr sounded like “Do-Re-Mi.” Nicole started her dancing career in the womb while her mom was teaching and dancing the whole nine months. When Nicole was a little toddler, she loved to get all the way up on her tippy toes and turn little circles with her arms up high saying Bouree, Bouree, Bouree!  She couldn't pronounce her name so she called herself “Nitnole” and it was always an affectionate nickname.

She grew up on the farm in the town she loved so much: Cass City, Michigan. She loved to dance and play in the dirt, always insisting on wearing a little red/white sequined and fringed cowboy costume from a tap dance she did. She loved that costume and wore it until it practically disintegrated! She loved to swim with her dad, go for tractor rides, and follow him around like a little shadow. She loved playing with the farm dogs, cats and a pet raccoon that she named Cancun. Nicole practically lived at the Sally Doerr Dance Studio in Cass City, and was also her Mom's little mini me. 

Nicole Rae was an all A student. She was a graduate of Caro High School in Caro, Michigan and loved to be challenged. One of her kindergarten teachers wrote on her report card that she was an excellent student but cried if her hair got messed up! That's showbiz - and Nicole loved to perform along with all the glamour, glitz, sparkles and spotlight that came with it! Nicole also competed as a diver and a gymnast in High School. Nicole was so very proud to graduate from U of M.  She was also a member of Impact Dance Theater on campus.  She loved the Maize and Blue and was honored to be a U of M alumni.

Nicole has competed, performed and trained her dance students throughout her whole life and had so many accomplishments in her life and dance career. She was the youngest dancer to be accepted in The Joffrey Mid-Western Ballet workshop and won many scholarships to LA. She not only won many outstanding awards for her dance performances, but for her choreography as well. She was also a member of the Detroit Pistons Dance Team, Automotion. She recently performed at the Little Ceasars Arena for the All Pistons Alumni dance team and loved every second of being on the court performing.

Miss Nicole has shared her talents and mentored many dancers over the years. She loved her dance family and took so much pride in her students, and it showed. She didn’t just train them, she inspired and motivated them - not only as dancers but as people by instilling kindness, humility, and confidence, teaching respect, inclusiveness, tolerance, discipline and the love of dance.  Miss Nicole loved and was so grateful for her dance community. . . and she loved and adored her students!  

Nicole is dearly loved by her dance family, too.  She and her mom were referred to as the "dynamic duo." Their love of dance was immense, but their love for each other was infinite.  19 years ago, Miss Nicole along with her mom Sally, created their home away from home: Flex Point PAC in Farmington Hills Michigan. She loved hanging out with the Flex Point Staff! There was always much laughter, hugs, love and lifelong friendships.

Nicole loved spending time with the love of her life, Matt McCullock.  They were always laughing and truly happy and they both loved sports!  She loved watching University of Michigan football on Saturdays, the Lions on Sundays, catching live sporting events, kayaking and the outdoors.  She loved taking rides in her Jeep with the top down, listening to music and wearing her Michigan baseball cap.  She also loved stargazing and was a surprisingly good gamer.

Nicole loves animals and she loved her dog Barclay that she shared with her boyfriend Matt.  She loved spending time with her mom’s little dog Tater Tot who always wanted to sit on her shoulder like a parrot.  We all know she is frolicking, playing and loving on her other dogs: Diva, Turbo and Fenn.

How do you honor Nicole and put her extraordinary life and how loved she was into a few paragraphs?  Mere words pale in comparison to the love, creativity, inspiration, motivation, laughter, pure joy, loyalty, leadership, friendship, classiness and sassiness and all the goodness and all the beauty that she brought to all who knew her.  It's hard to describe how truly special she was.  Her smile and laughter were infectious, she was incredibly funny and witty.  She was gorgeous, smart, and so talented in many aspects of her life.  She also could be a bit of a MacGyver like her dad. She was competitive and loved a challenge, and she could be a bit stubborn at times, too.  To know her was to truly love her.  Nicole Rae touched so many of our lives. The hole she leaves in our hearts is bottomless. The difference she made and the love she gave us is infinite and eternal.  She lives on through all of us.  Nicole is with us - a part of our fiber and our hearts and souls.  She was a fierce human being. 

GO BLUE!  Flex Point, Flex Point we love to dance at Flex Point.  Nicole Rae Doerr - forever in our hearts, forever missed, forever loved.

Per the family's request, in lieu of flowers, please send donation contributions in Nicole's name to Humane Society of Huron Valley or Impact Dance @ University of Michigan (links below).

In addition, to show spirit and honor to Nicole, please arrive dressed in your favorite University of Michigan or Flex Point PAC colors (Red, White and Black) attire on Friday, April 21 from 1-8 PM at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home. On Saturday, April 22 at 10:00 AM, please arrive in proper funeral attire for the service at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home.