Doris Kessel Allison, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home in Gainesville, Florida, on June 13, 2026, at the age of 85. Born on January 27, 1941, in Fisher, West Virginia, Doris was the youngest child of Cora Lee Fitzwater) Kessel and Floyd Kessel. Doris attended a one-room schoolhouse near her family farm before graduating from high school in Moorefield, West Virginia. She cherished her close-knit family, including her siblings Muriel Layton, Gene Kessel, and Reverend Wayne Kessel, as well as her Aunt Delphia Lynne Kessel, whose home and fresh pumpkin pies were a source of comfort and joy throughout her life. A dedicated civil servant, Doris built a career with the United States Postal Service, where she worked in various roles, most notably in the accounting division. It was there that she met the love of her life, D. Michael Allison. Their love story began on New Year’s Eve 1976 and blossomed into a devoted marriage of 49 years. Following her retirement from the USPS, Doris worked for 12 years as a bank teller at Bank of America in Woodstock, Virginia. Doris found happiness in life’s simple pleasures—traveling to California and the Dominican Republic, enjoying annual beach vacations with family, and hosting holiday gatherings filled with love, laughter, and delicious food. She was a talented pianist, knitter, and baker whose perfected cheesecake became a family favorite. Her warmth and generosity left an indelible mark on all who knew her. Doris is survived by her husband, Michael; brother Gene; children Roger Bensenhaver, Karen Perry (Randy), Nancy Williams; stepson David Allison; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Muriel and Wayne, and grandson Zachary Williams. In place of flowers, the family asks that those wishing to honor Doris’s memory perform an act of kindness or share a meal with loved ones. May her memory continue to inspire love and connection. http://everloved.com/life-of/doris-allison/
