Doris Cullers, 71, slipped away while surrounded by family at her home following a year-long battle with cancer.

Doris entered this world as the sixth of eight children born to Erma (Beecraft) and Clarence "Linc" Guernsey of Mechanicsburg, IL, on October 25, 1946.

Later, the family moved to Springfield and Doris graduated from Lanphier High School in 1964.

Doris married Roger Cullers in 1966 and later had two daughters. While her children were young, Doris worked for the Post Office. Once the kids entered school at Rochester in 1980, she started working toward her LPN. After that she worked part-time while completing her training for RN through LLCC. Doris spent her entire nursing career at St. John's Oncology unit.

In 1998 Roger and Doris both retired and moved to Lake of the Ozarks but moved back to Illinois in 2005. They spent winters in Florida and Aruba.

Besides her love of nursing, Doris enjoyed special trips to Boston, D.C., Arizona, California; golfing and bird watching; playing pinochle and Solitaire; reading suspense novels; sewing and crafting; and working table and Sudoku puzzles.

Doris leaves behind Roger, loving husband of 52 years; daughters Elizabeth Cullers (Joe Fagg) and Rebecca Klatt (Tim); three grandchildren: Marellen Cullers (24), Dalton (17) and Nolan (11) Klatt, all of Springfield.

Doris was preceded in death by both of her parents; two brothers, Gary and Phillip Guernsey (Nancy); and one sister Dorothy Smith (Haskell). Remaining are her sister Dana Harbour and brothers Dale and Dennis Guernsey (Judy), all of Springfield, and brother Kenneth Guernsey of Bloomington. Doris has several nieces and nephews and dear cousins with whom she shares special childhood memories.

In lieu of flowers, Doris asks that memorials be sent to either

Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church

501 S. Douglas Avenue

Springfield 62704

OR

SIU Foundation

Attn: Simmons Cancer Institute Research Fund

PO Box 19666

Springfield 62794

A special thanks to former RN and Reverend Margaret Anne Jessup for speaking at the service.

Visitation is Thursday, noon-1pm with a service immediately following at Wilson Park Funeral Home in Rochester.