Doris McGookey Obituary

Doris A. McGookey

Jul 20, 1930 - Mar 12, 2025

Sandusky

Doris Ann (Steinen) McGookey, 94, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Stein Hospice Care Center, surrounded by her loving family and dearest friends.

Doris was born July 20, 1930, in Sandusky to the late Gilbert and Thelma (Galloway) Steinen.

Doris was the matriarch of her family in the truest sense of the word. She instilled in her children and grandchildren the importance of hard work, a good education and love of family. The best times of her life were the many spring breaks when all her children and grandchildren visited the family condo at Sanibel Island and enjoyed their days together swimming, boating and fishing. But any times and any where the family was together were her best times.

Over the years Doris and Harry enjoyed spending many winters at Sanibel Island or Fort Myers, Florida. They also enjoyed an active social life with many friends from Sandusky Elks Club, Sandusky Yacht Club and Plum Brook Country Club.

When her children went off to college, Doris had more to accomplish in her life. In the early 1970s she saw the trend of more women entering the workforce and recognized the need of young families for quality childcare. Thus, in May of 1973, Doris opened Kiddie Korral, one of the first child development centers in the area. Her goal was to provide working parents quality affordable childcare and children a clean, safe, and loving environment where they could grow and learn.

Always recognizing the importance of early education, she made preschool (taught by certified teachers) available to all of these children starting at age 3. Years later, as they graduated from high school, she was proud to see many of her Kiddie Korral "graduates" named as their schools' top/honor graduates. Over the years, Kiddie Korral has donated numerous scholarships for these and other high school students to continue to advance their education.

Doris is survived by her four children, James (Anne) McGookey, Sandusky, Dr. Patrick (Kim) McGookey, Cape Coral, Florida, Dan (Bev) McGookey, Sandusky, and Gail (Frank) Stoy, Columbus; 10 grandchildren, Ryan McGookey, Leigh (Kevin) Johnson, Lauren (Brian) Gulley, Beth (Kody) Ferguson, Michael (Alivia) McGookey, Caroline (Chris) DeMario, Ellen (Tim) Bartolett, Thomas McGookey, Nick (Kelly) Maschari, and Kurt (Jen) Maschari; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband of 73 years, Harry, in 2022.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. Saturday March 15th, 2025, until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, OH. A Private family burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Sandusky. Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

The family would like to recognize and thank the wonderful caregivers and doctors at Parkvue, FRMC and Stein Hospice who helped their mother over the last weeks and months, as well as special friends (particularly Jackie Powell, Terri Alexander and Johna Warner), who spent many hours comforting her in her final days. We are forever grateful.

Those wishing to honor/remember Doris can make a memorial contribution to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org.

Condolences may be shared online at www.grofffuneralhomes.com.