AUBURN — Doris H. LaFrance, 80, a resident of Turner Street in Auburn, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Clover Manor, after a long illness.

She was born Sept. 14, 1930, in Auburn, a daughter of Herman and Ruth A. (Briggs) Sawyer. She was educated in Auburn schools and graduated from Edward Little High School with the Class of 1951.

Doris was a longtime member of the Auburn Church of the Nazarene, where she had been a Sunday school teacher. She was also an active member of the Young At Heart program at the Court Street Baptist and East Auburn Baptist churches, member and past president of the Parents’ Group of Auburn and was an active volunteer for the Auburn School Department.

Doris enjoyed knitting and crocheting hats and mittens that many local kids received from her as gifts. She enjoyed bowling with her family, playing cards and attending the many sporting events of her grandchildren. Another favorite pastime of Doris’ was attending baseball and softball games with her best friend, Virginia Huntington. Doris always looked forward to attending class reunion dinners over the years. She was a longtime babysitter in the area and was known as “Nanny” to many children in the Auburn area.

Survivors include two daughters, Linda Bailey Hurd and her husband, Russell, of Auburn and Lisa A. and her husband, Walter Evrard of Auburn; a brother, Nelson, and his wife, Nancy Sawyer of Anchorage, Alaska; a sister, Cordelia Sawyer of Auburn; a sister-in-law, Rita, and her husband, Dominic Dick of Lewiston; a brother-in-law, Eddie, and his wife, Pauline LaFrance of Sabattus; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a special friend, Nancy Tardif, whom Doris thought of as her daughter; and many nieces and nephews.

Doris was predeceased by her husband, Leo LaFrance, who died in 1994; a son, Donald LaFrance in 1986; a son-in-law, Butch Bailey in 1990; a granddaughter, Michelle LaFrance in 1987; and a great-grandson, Adam Curtis in 2009.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the LaFrance family by visiting Doris’ guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.