Doris Brockway

Doris Mae Brockway, 92, of Bettendorf, Iowa, passed away on Friday, July 21, 2017 at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. Private burial services will be in Rock Island National Cemetery.

Doris was born September 22, 1924 in Darby, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel and Violet Mae (Dubosq) Scott. She was raised in St. Albans, Queens, New York, until her family moved to Beaumont, Texas, where she completed high school. Doris received an Associate of Arts degree from Lamar College, now Lamar University. On June 10, 1945, she married Raymond J. Brockway who served in the Army Air Force during World War II as a Link pilot instructor in St. Charles, Louisiana. A short time later, the couple settled in Bettendorf where they raised three children and built a successful family business.

For 50 years, the Brockways grew strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash and other produce on their farm in Bettendorf and on a plot of land in Pleasant Valley. In the 1970s, people flocked to the Brockway farm, the first “pick your own” strawberries operation in the area. On many hot summer days, Doris sold sweet corn at their stand along U.S. 67 in Pleasant Valley. According to Doris’ children, she helped out with few complaints. She was practical, hard working, and persevered during difficult times.

Doris is affectionately remembered by many students at Bettendorf High School, where she worked as the athletic department secretary for over 25 years. “She was always patient, kind, and generous,” says former BHS track athlete Tom Fitzgerald of Denver, Colorado.

When her daughter, Diane, became a Girl Scout, Doris volunteered to be a troop leader. She took the girls hiking, camping, and canoeing and led them in numerous community service projects. Years later, one of Doris’ Girl Scouts wrote: “With the patience of a saint, she guided us along life’s young journey . . . I owe more to Mrs. Brockway than she will ever know.”

After retirement, Doris stayed active. She volunteered at Genesis East Hospital in Davenport and was recognized by Governor Terry Branstad for her 5,013 hours of service. She also spent much of her time outdoors. Every spring, she took her family and friends to Blackhawk State Park to identify and enjoy the many wildflowers in bloom. Foremost, she cherished her time with her friends during her many hikes as a devoted member of the Black Hawk Hiking Club. These included the annual "Big Hikes" in Montana, Canada, Maine, and the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Enjoying the beauty of nature, while hiking, camping, canoeing, and cross-country skiing, was her true love later in life.

But throughout her life, her favorite pastime was swimming and she took every opportunity to jump into water--at the Muscatine gravel pit, the Rock Island YWCA pool, Lake Michigan, or the warm waters off the Florida coast where she sometimes vacationed. She continued to swim laps in the YWCA pool until three years ago.

Doris became a world traveler whose curiosity and sense of adventure took her all over the U.S. and the world. Some of the places she visited with travel groups, including the Friendship Force and the Plus 60 Club, were New Zealand, Australia, France, Austria, Wales, Scotland, Italy, and England. She made friends everywhere she went.

Over the years, Doris enjoyed the fellowship she found as a member of several area churches. She attended the Asbury United Methodist Church and Pleasant View Baptist Church.

Doris loved animals, particularly the dogs she and her family had over the years: Sharky, Red, Blackie, Honey, Casey, and her beloved Charlie. Most were strays or adopted from area animal shelters.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband on June 27, 2004; and by her brother, John Stuart Scott, Sr., and his wife Lucille Scott of Beaumont, Texas.

Those left to honor her memory include her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Ron Kintner of Bettendorf; her sons and daughters-in-law, Randall Brockway and Pearl Gaskins of Riverside, Illinois, and Mark and Anne Brockway of Bettendorf; four grandchildren, Michael (Amy) Kintner, Matthew (Emilie) Kintner, Lena Brockway, and Joshua Shelp-Brockway; four great-grandchildren, Claire, Hannah, Grant, Nash; and niece Patti Wolff of Beaumont, Texas, and nephew Dr. John S. Scott, Jr. of Keller, Texas.

The family wants to give special thanks to caregivers Joy, Brenda, Carol, Nita, Pam and the nurses from Beacon of Hope Hospice for their friendship and wonderful care.

Memorials can be sent to the Humane Society of Scott County and the YWCA of Rock Island.