Doris L Carmicheal

Doris Louise (Neumann) Carmichael, age 91, our best friend, Mother & Grandma passed on Feb 12, 23. Doris was ushered out of this world by her daughter, grandsons and many boisterous women who loved her as her light moved on. She is survived by her daughter Jeanne Anderson and most spoiled Grandchildren Tucker Anderson (Harper) and Owen Anderson. Doris was preceded in death by Jim Carmichael, her ornery but loving husband of 52 years who is surely waiting for her to cook him a good meal. She was also proceeded in death by her parents William and Lydia Neumann, beloved siblings Lucy Martin (Robert) and Francis Neumann (Donna). The three couples had many fun times. Doris was a BIG fan of chocolate, Johnny Cash, the Kentucky derby, and Jesus (not necessarily in this order). Doris spent decades serving God with the wonderful women of the Lutheran Ladies Guild.

Doris was always happy.  She chose to be happy. She had sad moments and life was not always easy. Some mad moments, but those rarely lasted a whole day. Doris grew up on her parent’s farm in Louisville.  She enjoyed the farm life and helped with animals, gardening and as needed, as she loved the outdoors. Later she attended school in Louisville, worked at a cafe where cigarettes were somehow obtained and after graduation moved to Omaha for office training.  Doris was proud to be a Louisville graduate and attended Alumni banquets religiously.

She married James Carmicheal in 1947 with a small ceremony at Immanuel Lutheran in Louisville.  Her beloved sister Lucille made her brown velvet wedding dress with fabric wrapped buttons. Jim enjoyed joking that him and another guy (Joey Haswell) came upon two girls.  They both wanted the red head but dad lost the coin toss. And so it began.  Doris loves Johnny Cash, the original "Bad Boy." That explains how our saintly Doris ended up with Jim.  She loved remembering Jim waking her up in the middle of the night to cook frog legs after a successful night of hunting.

Doris rented a room in Omaha after high school while attending the business school and fondly remembered starving herself to buy high heeled shoes. Her love of fashion and shopping was a constant during her life. Doris worked early in her career for the Northwestern Bell telephone company and dressed the part like a young Jackie O. Offutt Air Force Base was her most prestigious job as one of the first computer programmers on the base working amongst Generals. She was flown to Chicago for training and Jim was beside himself with jealousy by the time she got home. She loved telling that story. Jim was the one who saw the job posting in the Omaha World Herald and told her she could do the job! Jim and Doris lived a wild and full life before Jeanne came along. Jeanne heard tales of trips, parties, business ventures, house building and family history that influenced her greatly.  Doris told Jeanne often she was just like her Dad, which didn't always sit well as Doris was obviously the GOOD one of the two.  The two built a house on Clinton street in Plattsmouth and enjoyed relationships with neighbors and beers at the picnic table.

Doris was both a typical 1950's housewife and a modern working woman.  Truly one of the first in her generation having had a child so late in life.  After 21 years of marriage, Doris had Jeanne and became a stay-at-home Mom. Although Jim would say she was rarely at home.  Doris was active at First Lutheran Church as a member of the Ladies Guild, she held positions in the LWML, attended Lutheran Conventions, served at funerals, Vacation Bible School, volunteers at the Plattsmouth Manor and much more. Doris returned to the work force when Jeanne was in 8th grade and served as an Administrative Assistant at The Plattsmouth Manor. She continued to be active at First Lutheran until she was 90.

Doris and Jeanne always enjoyed Saturday visits to her Mother In Laws house, Daisy Carmicheal in Omaha and Sunday visits to her mothers, Lydia Neumann’s, house in Louisville.  Doris and Jeanne would take the Grandmas shopping, mow their lawns and enjoy their company. The two often stopped down to Jim’s shop or Albos Bar for a bit of story telling and debauchery before leaving Plattsmouth. Doris was blessed with a full life and part of that was many nieces and nephews she was very close to. The Bill Carmicheal family lived nearby and Doris enjoyed the six children before and after she had her own child. Doris and her sister in law Lou Gates took the cousins to Peony Park and The Henry Doorly Zoo and many other adventures. Doris had special relationships with many nieces and nephews across the country that continued her whole life.

Doris and Jim enjoyed 51 years of marriage. Her grandchildren Tucker and Owen were the biggest highlight of the couples later years. They both helped babysit weekly, always greeted Jeanne, Paul, Tucker and Owen with dinner and a comforting spot to unload their burdens. Doris hosted holidays, coordinated fishing trips and visited Tucker and Owen often as well as endless shopping, museum and arcade trips with her favorite boys.

Doris helped Jeanne with every business venture and always supported any bad idea with positivity. Jeanne remembers once complaining about a garage roof bid and Doris chimed in that Jeanne could easily roof that herself. Doris helped anywhere she was needed. Doris helped at Jeannes Daycare, did dishes at Art Chicks, helped flip houses, did drywall with Jim, did real estate videos with Jeanne and anything else she could do. Even in her 80's she talked of wanting to get a job. Doris loved hearing that her Nomads Bar videos always got the most views and loved her time in Nehawka with the welcoming people there.

Doris would want to leave you with these small notes. Smile when you answer the phone. Wear sleeves when in business settings. Always decorate with an odd number of items. If you spill it is totally O.K.  Buy beautiful clothes. Jesus loves you.