Doris Marie (Golike) Leverett was born September 6, 1922, the second daughter of Robert Raikes Golike and Della Rose Dingerson, in Bunker Hill. The family continued to grow until there were 7 children: Lola (Harris), Doris (Leverett), twins Robert & Delbert, Glen, Vera (Vaughn) and David. Doris was the last living member of the seven siblings. Doris died peacefully at Madrid Home, Madrid, Iowa, January 15, 2018 at 6:02 pm.
Doris grew up in Bunker Hill and graduated salutatorian of Bunker Hill High School at Meisner in 1941. That same year she was lead to the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior by Pastor Herb Johnson as she went to him for a reference to go to school. During this time she began to work for the Glover family who owned a dry cleaners. Her life would change when their youngest brother, Cletis Howat Leverett (born March 15, 1923 in Equality, Illinois son of Jess and Ary [Reynolds] Leverett) arrived. They were united in marriage on Doris’s birthday 1942 with Cletis’s parents in tow. Doris loved this man more than her own life and did her best as a wife for him. They served 40 years as missionaries under Baptist Mid-Missions and were members of Berean Baptist Church, Bunker Hill.
While Cletis went to Northwestern Bible College in Minnesota, she helped by proofing all his papers. Arriving in the Appalachian Hills in Cornettsville, Kentucky they served a full six years at Bethanna Baptist Church. Doris was busy learning to play the big white piano for church, playing the pump organ at river baptismal, cooking food for everyone and keeping the children clean while battling flooding, poverty, orphans, and tending to the needs of folks in the hollar.
After Kentucky, it was Kodiak, Alaska where after only four years a church was born. Home to Bunker Hill for good after a major earthquake and tidal wave, life changed as Cletis became a mission evangelist and station supply in the United States, Canada and Australia. Doris also was an Awana Leader, church building program treasurer, played the piano and sang in the choir.
She was able to live in the home that Cletis’s friend, Bill Snediker, built for them in 1965 until she was 93 years old. Since that time she has lived in assisted living homes in Madrid, Iowa with her son Steve and wife Kathy as faithful caregivers.
She was preceded in death by husband, Cletis Howat Leverett on January 12, 2000, in Brighton; her Golike family; and many of her friends.
She is survived by her children, Cletus Leverett (Judy), Warsaw, Indiana, Stephen Leverett (Kathy), Ankeny, Iowa, Karen (Leverett) Boersma (David), Horicon, Wisconsin, and Richard Leverett, (Julie), Marion, Iowa; grandchildren, Brian Leverett (Delores), Jenni Sparks (Ryan), Stephen Leverett (Jessica), Thera Brant (Kevin), Kory Boersma (Lisa Mienders), Kamber Arends (Jeremy), Karynda Frederick (Adam), Kodiak Boersma (Kayla), Morgan Reeves (Dan) and Jess Leverett (Nicole LeGrand); and great grandchildren, Abigail Treibs, Caleb, Austin & Josie Sparks, Wyatt, Saydie & Aliza Brant, Clark, Kaitlynn, Cade & Gage Boersma, Juddson & Jace Arends, Kalan and Allie Frederick, Addilyn Boersma, Hopelynn, Lexandra, & Aaron Jess Reeves, Maely & Hazel LeGrand Leverett.
Visitation will be at 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 20 at Berean Baptist Church, 200 E. Hamilton St., Bunker Hill. The funeral will follow immediately. Burial will be at Bunker Hill Cemetery, Bunker Hill.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill, Illinois is in charge of the arrangements.
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