Obituary of Doris Mae Godown

Doris Mae (Heckman) Godown, 89, departed this life at her home in Hornell, NY, on Sunday, February 21, 2021, due to complications from pneumonia after surviving Covid months earlier. Born in Bethlehem, PA on March 4, 1931, she was the daughter of Joseph Arlington and Lena Irene (Lehr) Heckman. She graduated from Washington High School, NJ in 1949. Doris was a longtime resident of Hornell and previously lived in Independence NY, Coudersport PA and Allentown NJ. In addition to her parents, Doris was predeceased by her stepmother Ruth Heckman, her son Rodney, great grandson Lucas, and her sisters Elaine Drake, Joyce Jones, and Lois Heckman. Doris married Lawrence Godown in Washington, NJ on her 19th birthday, March 4, 1950. She was a very caring person who took pride in her career of raising 7 children and lovingly caring for her husband Larry for almost 71 years. Doris was a “taxi driver” for the kids who were all active in extracurricular activities both at school and church. Once she got all the kids on the bus, she was instrumental in working on the large family farm caring for thousands of baby chicks. Cooking was her specialty and almost every day, she prepared a full course meal complete with homemade desserts for the “big crew” to devour. Doris had a beautiful voice and was very talented musically. During high school she sang on the radio, was the singer for the jazz band and played the bugle with the Washington High School Drum and Bugle Corps for football games. Later in life, she played both the piano and organ for the Methodist Churches in Andover and Hornell and at times served as the choir director. Doris enjoyed many times over the years singing with the family around the piano. Surviving besides her husband, Lawrence, are six children, Richard (Susan), Ronald (Laurie), Roger (Nancy), Russell (Glenna), Susan, and Robert (Lisa), twelve grandchildren, and twenty-three great grandchildren. Due to Covid, there will be no calling hours. The family will have a private memorial service later this week. Contributions in memory of Doris can be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Rd, Hornell NY 14843, or to the Hornell United Methodist Church, 7528 N. Main St Ext, Hornell NY 14843.