Doris Rose Dentel Morningstar Bayes, 100, of Muskegon, Michigan, passed away in The Leila and Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence on March 11, 2026. Doris, formerly of Adrian, MI and Bradenton, FL, was surrounded by loving family and friends visiting from near and far in the weeks preceding her passing.
Doris was born on May 19, 1925 in Adrian, Michigan, the daughter of Earl and Mary (Hoffman) Dentel. She graduated from Onsted High School in 1943. On September 23, 1943 Doris married Hardy Morningstar in Lenawee County, Michigan. They were blessed with 41 years of marriage and together had 3 loving daughters, 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.
Doris joined Hardy on the road to different Army Airforce destinations around the country during WWII. After the war Doris and Hardy settled into their married life in Onsted, MI where Doris became a mother to Jane, Joan, and Jill. They lived in their farm house and she cared for her family, home, and garden.
After the loss of her husband, Hardy, Doris returned to Onsted Public Schools to drive school bus. She loved her co-workers and the students, including her own grandchildren who were lucky enough to ride her bus from time to time. Doris retired in 1990.
Around the same time, Doris reconnected with her childhood friend, Richard Bayes, and they were married in October. They shared many adventures over 13 years of marriage.
Doris was very creative and loved many hobbies including needlepoint, baking, playing the piano and organ. She was highly active throughout her life and enjoyed gardening, traveling, bowling, shuffleboard, BINGO, and card games. Doris had an exceptional talent for identifying plants, flowers and birds and her loved ones cherished the opportunity to learn from her. With her quick wit, playful sense of humor, and unforgettable laugh, she made everything fun—from telling a good joke and making silly faces to picking roadside asparagus or gathering cherries. She was devoted, kind, intelligent, and generous, with a strong spirit and a positive outlook that lifted everyone around her. She carried a joyful heart and never held a grudge, leaving a legacy of warmth, wisdom, and love.
She was a Charter Member of the Durkee-Seager Unit 550 American Legion Auxiliary and she contributed to the Legion community for many years.
Doris was also a member of Orange Grove Free Methodist Church, in Bradenton, FL for nearly 20 years.
Remaining to cherish Doris’s memory are her daughters Jane Morningstar (Steve Pauline), Joan Bartlett, Jill Daugherty (Randy), her grandchildren John Morningstar (Kristina), Amy Pelham (Tyler), Danielle Thomson (Jim), Nora VanStrate (Tim), Caleb Schultz; her great-grandchildren Grant Pelham (Alyssa), Nick Morningstar, Rosie Jomaa (Mounib), Ashlee Pelham, Noah Morningstar, Madalyn Schultz, and Andrew Schultz, Tripp VanStrate, Hardy VanStrate; great-great grands Kaz & Kruz Jomaa, and Rhett Pelham and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Doris in death are Hardy Morningstar, Richard Bayes, grandson Andrew Schultz, granddaughter Jennifer Yahrmarkt, her parents Earl and Mary Dentel, her siblings Gordon (Dorothy) Dentel, and Beryl (Glenn) Jessup.
Anderson-Marry Funeral Home will host the Visitation on Monday, March 16th, from 5-8pm and on Tuesday March 17th, from 11am-1pm. The funeral will be held at 1pm on Tuesday March 17th at 1pm with Pastor Richard Bayes officiating.
Memorial donations in Doris’s memory may be directed to Harbor Hospice Foundation https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E8358&id=1
or
Orange Grove Free Methodist Church https://ogfmc.com/
Friends can express sympathies to the family online by visiting the tribute wall at www.marryfh.com. Arrangements have been made with the guidance of the Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.