Doris Walker Eagan passed away on Oct. 16, 2021, at her home in Cazenovia, surrounded by her family. Born in Flushing, N.Y., on Dec. 14, 1928, to Robert Gilmore Walker and Rosemary Eckermann Walker. Upon her parents’ early deaths, she and her sister, Rosemary (Walker Clarke), were brought to live in Syracuse by her maternal uncle Charles Eckermann and his wife Grace. They were raised here along with her four cousins who she always viewed as siblings and loved them as such.
She was the valedictorian of her class at St. Vincent de Paul high school. She majored in business at Keuka College and graduated magna cum laude.
Doris volunteered for 45 years with the Red Cross Bloodmobile and was honored for her lengthy service. She was committed to the arts and was instrumental in the building of the I.M. Pei Everson Art Museum and served on their Board and Trip Committee. She was a lifelong supporter of the Syracuse Symphony, and a season subscriber to the Famous Artists Broadway Theater. Her love of music was always present in her home — with her daily piano playing, singing with her family and listening to classical music throughout the day.
She instilled in her family her great love of literature, music, the outdoors (skiing, tennis, golf, sailing) and the joy of swimming in any body of water. Doris had a passion for gardening, bird watching, cooking, the New York Times and scolding squirrels. She was a world-class backseat driver.
Doris had a zest for living and loved a good horse race, a close golf match and had a great sense of style. She was a devoted Syracuse University sports fan. She and her husband, Bill, traveled the world playing golf with the American Seniors and the International Seniors. She was a life-long member of the Onondaga Golf and Country Club and a member of the Cazenovia Club.
She married L. William (Bill) Eagan in 1950. They were life-long dance partners until his death in 2010.
Doris is survived by her sister Rosemary Walker Clarke of Bayville, N.Y.; her children — Kathy Eagan (Bud Colby) of Santa Fe, NM, Tim Eagan (Jane) of Hailey, ID, Ed Eagan (Karen) of Manlius and Annie Eagan (Dan Sprinkles) of Cazenovia; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A devout Catholic, Doris raised her children attending Holy Cross Church of Dewitt, and attended St. James Parish of Cazenovia.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Doris at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in St. James Catholic Church, 6 Green St. in Cazenovia. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road, Cazenovia. Face masks are required for the mass and the calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Doris’ life with donations to: Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse, NY 13202 or online at everson.org/donate/; Symphoria, 234 Harrison St., Syracuse, NY 13202 or online at experiencesymphoria.org; or the Syracuse Chapter of the American Red Cross Bloodmobile online at redcross.org/donate. To leave a message of sympathy for the Eagan family, please visit michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.
