Doris Marian Gustavson

April 19, 1929 ~ January 23, 2025
Born in:
Chesterfield, Mo
Resided in:
Lawrenceville, Ga
Doris Marian Gustavson passed from death to life eternal on Thursday morning, January 23, 2025 at the age of 95. Doris was born in her family’s Civil War era farmhouse near Chesterfield, Missouri on April 19, 1929. She was the eighth child of John and Hazel Jaeger; she had one sister and seven brothers.
While growing up on the farm without a lot of playmates living close by, Doris would often tag along with her brothers as they did their chores, swam in the creek, or played baseball. The brothers were willing to have her with them during their games, especially after they assigned her the job of retrieving their foul balls.
Doris attended her first eight years of school in the one-room Wild Horse Elementary School, where she had the same teacher (Miss Crone) each of those years. She then attended Eureka High School, where she was a class officer, a prom maid, played basketball on the girls’ team and was a cheerleader for the boys’ team. Upon her graduation from Eureka High in 1945, she learned that her elementary teacher, Miss Crone, was retiring and that she could apply to replace her, even though Doris had not yet attended college. Doris began teaching at Wild Horse Elementary that same year, with the understanding that she would take some college classes during the summers. She taught at Wild Horse Elementary for three years, but was forced by school board policy to stop when she married Eric Gustavson in the summer of 1948.
Doris and Eric moved to Dayton, Ohio in the early 1950s, where Eric was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Doris’ first non-teaching job was on the base, where she eagerly served as a receptionist within one of the major buildings. In 1953, Doris and Eric welcomed their first child, Sandra, who was born in the base hospital. Eric’s enlistment in the Air Force ended shortly after Sandra was born, and the family relocated back into the St. Louis area. They welcomed son Jon in 1957.
Doris held many jobs throughout her life, both in St. Louis and in Atlanta, where the family moved in 1963. Over time, she specialized in typesetting within the printing industry. She and Eric opened and operated their own typesetting business, Northway Graphics, during most of the 1970’s. But the industry evolved quickly as personal computers became prevalent, allowing many to do their own typesetting. As a result, after about 10 years in business, Doris and Eric shut down Northway Graphics and once again went to work for others. Doris retired from her typesetting role with Equifax in 1994 when she turned 65.
Doris was predeceased by her husband Eric Gustavson; her parents John and Hazel Jaeger; her sister Geneva Ross; her brothers Jack, Hicks, Arnold, Bud, Don, Roy, and Tony Jaeger; and a niece Mary Jane Smith. Doris is survived by her daughter Sandra Gustavson; son Jon Gustavson and Jon’s wife Gwen; grandson Tim and Tim’s wife Beth; grandson Daniel and Daniel’s wife Asaka; grandson Phillip and Phillip’s wife Laura; great-grandchildren Caleb, Stephen, Joanna, Bianca, Eric, Max, and Claire; and many nieces and nephews. Unless noted otherwise, all last names in this paragraph are Gustavson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a financial contribution to the BrightFocus Foundation, which funds scientific research worldwide to find treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Services
Visitation: January 26, 2025 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel
1031 Lawrenceville Hwy.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
770-277-4550
Memorial Service: January 26, 2025 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel
1031 Lawrenceville Hwy.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
770-277-4550
Our sympathy & love to your family. I am David Ross’ daughter & it has been quite a long time since we have been in contact. I remember a family vacation years ago when we came to GA & went to Stone Mountain. I also recall a place with a lake where a pipe organ played & a restaurant that served Brunswick stew! May Doris rest in peace & God bless her sweet soul.