Doris Dobson
EXETER - Doris Louis Leddy Dobson, age 93, of Exeter, NH, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2023. Doris, daughter of Albert and Ruth Leddy, was born in Providence, RI on April 10, 1930. She grew up in Bradford, Massachusetts, and later lived in Atlanta, Georgia and Jacksonville Beach, Florida, before moving back to New England to Amesbury MA in the late 1950’s. She eventually moved to Exeter, NH where she met the love of her life, Neal Elwin Dobson. They married in the fall of 1961 and built their dream home together on Hampton Falls Road, in Exeter. Doris opened a small gift shop called The Country Shop, where she sold Vermont cheese, lamps, clocks, pewter, unusual men’s ties, penny candy, cards, books, and chocolates (including chocolate covered insects!) and ran it until the birth of their daughter in 1963. Throughout their 59 years of marriage, Doris and Neal enjoyed traveling to Vermont, the White Mountains and Sandwich Notch, the First Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg, NH, Point Pleasant, NJ, and Florida. They would travel along the Piscataqua River, making their way to the beach at Odiorne State Park and also spent a lot of time on Lake Winnipesaukee exploring coves and waterskiing. They enjoyed riding in parades, wearing Doris’ handmade costumes, in Neal’s 1914 Model T Depot Hack. Doris had a wonderful sense of humor and she and Neal loved to share their jokes with everyone they came in contact with – from wait staff at the restaurants they frequented to the nurses and doctors they saw in their later years. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, jazz, entertaining family and friends and had an appreciation and childlike curiosity about a great many things - we will all miss her pink lipstick, nail polish, and feisty disposition! Doris is predeceased by her husband, Neal Elwin Dobson and her daughter, Deborah Jo (Dobson) Day. She is survived by her son Stephan Smith and his wife Candice, daughter, Kitrina (Dobson) Williams and her husband Bradley, and grandchildren: Jason Beers, Kimberly Beers, Jered Smith and Kyle Williams. A graveside ceremony will be held in the Exeter Cemetery on October 23, 2023 at 11 AM. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the incredible staff at Langdon Place of Exeter and Beacon Hospice for their sensitivity, compassion and kindness.