Doris Elizabeth Cramer Shepherd Phibbons, 99 years young, of Harwood, MD, passed away on June 5, 2022 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Doris was born in Baltimore on March 17, 1923 to Walter Gregory and Lillian Elizabeth (Bettie) Cramer. She graduated from Seton High School with secretarial skills and was employed by the Whitaker Paper Company in Baltimore. She met her husband, Ernest Shepherd, Jr., while visiting family in Friendship one summer. They were married in 1944 and raised their four children on the family farm in Harwood. Ernest passed away in 1969 and she later married John Phibbons in 1987.

Doris was employed by the Anne Arundel County Board of Education as a school secretary in 1964 at Southern Jr-Sr High (later Southern Middle School), retiring in 1987. She was a devoted member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Owensville for 80+ years where she was a past president of the Ladies Guild, a member of the Parish Council, a Eucharistic minister, and took communion to many shut-in parishioners. She was also a Girl Scout leader for many years, planning troop activities and camping trips on family property and at Camp Woodlands in Riva. After retirement, Doris enjoyed visits with neighbors and friends, sharing books, neighborhood news, and home-baked goods. She loved to host family gatherings and became the go-to babysitter for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed playing the piano and was known for keeping detailed family records. Up until COVID caused closure of the facility, she attended weekly exercise classes at the South County Senior Center in Edgewater.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Ernest Shepherd, Jr. and John Phibbons, a sister E. Marie Cramer, and her step-grandson David Franklin. She is survived by her children Ernest Shepherd III (Joan) of Lothian, Jean Krebs (Bill) of Lothian, Jane Bishop (Rick) of Harwood, and Nancy Hill of Annapolis, a step-daughter, Johnnie Ann Franklin (Gary) of Lothian, grandchildren Michael Shepherd, Karen Weimer, Carole Nutwell, Christie Richey, Cindy Ford, Sandy Harner, Jessica Blansett, Breslin White, and Margaret Mazzei, step-grandchildren Christopher Franklin and Sarah Franklin, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Per her wish, her body has been donated to the Anatomy Board of Maryland. Visitation will be held on June 14, 2022, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (101 Owensville Rd. West River, MD 20778). There will be a Memorial Mass on June 15, 2022 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Sorrows with a reception following at the Christ Church Parish Hall (204 Owensville Rd. West River, MD 20778). In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church or to Hospice of the Chesapeake (90 Ritchie Hwy. Pasadena, MD 21122).

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