MARY MARGARET DORAN

Mary Margaret Doran, the 6th child, 4th daughter, of David Daniel and Sarah Jane Pickard Doran was born on August 5, 1904 on Clarissa St. in the Herron Hill area of Pittsburgh, PA. She was baptized August 15th; her godparents were John Dolan and Mary Bolger. In the 1915? Doran family picture, Mary is seventh from the right (or left); in the 1917? Doran family photograph she is behind her mother, to the right.

Blue-eyed little Mary began her schooling in DuBois, PA, perhaps at St. Canice School. She probably finished up her education in Pittsburgh, PA., where the Dorans moved again c.1916/1917. A neighborhood barber did some matchmaking and told brown haired Mary about a Howe Street area boy. Soon young, lively, talkative (4'11") Mary eloped with John Bertram Flister (known as Bert). They were married by a Justice of the Peace in Wellsburg, WVA, on October 25, 1921 and took up residence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. Mary was only 17 at the time. From at least 1923-1934, Mary & Bert lived with other Flisters in an apt. at 5528 Howe, just up the street from the Doran1s at 5518.

Mary and Bert were blessed with two daughters: Mary Edna (known as Dolly) born July 9, 1922, and Sara Louise (known as Sally Lou), born in 1927. My father, Bob Halli, tells a story of how Dad Doran struggled to reach the Oakmont area during the 1936 Pittsburgh flood to help Mary & Bert bail out their 1st floor apartment. The Flister's cottage was so near the Allegheny River, Mary and Bert lost everything. (Little Sally Lou was living at the DePaul School at the time).

Bert (9/25/1898) served in the US Coast Guard (WWI & II) as a Lt.JG. In the 1920's he worked as a wholesale jewelry salesman for Biggard & Co., then in 1930 was employed by Colker Bros. Both businesses operated out of the Clark Building in Pittsburgh (on 7th St. between Penn & Liberty). He became a well respected jewelry & clock repairer, always in demand. Bert kept the clocks at Horne's in tip top condition and went weekly to wind the timepieces of a 5th Avenue mansion. The Flister's basement at 248 Beverly Road (c.1940-1965) was devoted to his occupation; and later, at 2515 Hayson Avenue, their last Pittsburgh home, every room had the sound of tick/tock-ing -- (even the bathroom!).

Mary Flister worked at Joseph Horne's Department store (Pgh.) in the jewelry department from about 1937/8 until she retired. Most of my childhood bracelet charms were special Christmas gifts from Aunt Mary and Uncle Bert; my brother purchased an engagement ring, 1969, through Aunt Mary.

Mary Flister was the life of any party, full of high spirits. She was an excellent cook, always encouraging her already full guests to keep eating the wonderful foods she prepared. Mary and Bert amazingly remained bean-pole/pencil thin. Her dad said that Mary (only 100 lbs.) could stand beside a telephone pole and disappear. Mary & Bert both liked to garden; and Mary enjoyed keeping her wits sharp by playing cards. Bert was a jack of all trades; a quiet person with a wide smile. Mary's hands were always gesturing; her laugh high and frequent when gossiping with family and friends. Like all the Dorans, Mary kept in close touch with family. She called her mom "Queenie" in letters and on frequent phone calls. She was a good egg. Honest & true. Mary loved Christmas songs and the 'Old Smoothies'. In the 1980's, Bert's chronic lung disease worsened ; he died January 13, 1983, age 84. Bert is buried in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA.

Around 1995 , Mary and Sally Lou, left hilly & snowy Pittsburgh for the sun of Naples, Florida where grandson, Scott, had a condominium. Mary was closer then to her former son-in-law, Bud Owens, and Bud's second wife, Jean, who were Naples residents also.

Mary Flister, of all the Doran children, lived the longest life. In her 94th year Mary Margaret Doran Flister contracted liver cancer, dying some months later, December 16, 1998, in Columbus, OH where her grandsons, Scott & Tim Owens had been caring for her. Her ashes were to be scattered in Venetian Bay, FL.

Mary & Bert's children:

Mary and Bert's oldest daughter, Mary, (known to all as Dolly), married William Boyd Owens (Bud) (3/19/1921) in November, 1941. The Owens family lived in Ohio but Bud's work for the Telephone Company took him all around the country, including a long stint in Alaska. Dolly and Bud had two sons, who both still live in Ohio -- David Scott (1952) and Timothy John Owens (1958). Bud and Dolly divorced in the 1970s? Dolly had thyroid and weight problems later in life. She died three days after an operation, April 29, 1991, in Pittsburgh and is buried there in Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

Bud remarried, moved to Florida and died there in Naples, Florida, February 20, 1995.

Mary and Bert's second daughter, Sally Lou, had an ear infection at age three which caused total deafness. She began attending the DePaul Institute for the Deaf in Brookline (Pgh, PA) at age four and continued her education at Sacred Heart High School. She graduated from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow College), Pgh, PA with a degree in home economics, June 1944. Sally Lou taught at the DePaul Institute and served as an assistant to Thomas Hoag there many years before retiring. She and her mother moved to Naples, Florida in the 1990's.