Doris Gene Lecount Alber Ferrari

Doris Gene (Jean) LeCount Alber Ferrari, 97, of San Antonio, Texas and formerly of Ligonier, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2021. She was born on February 4, 1924, in Wawaka,Indiana, the daughter of Jesse and Florence (Miller) LeCount.  She married Dr. Robert J. Alber on June 4, 1949, who preceded her in death on July 31, 1970 and remarried to Col. Victor J.  Ferrari on September 3, 1978 until his death on May 5, 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Helen Schermerhorn and Kathryn Juday Spahr and one brother, Paul LeCount.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Jane (Joseph) Reinke of Mounds View, MN, Susan (Steven) Brizius of North Royalton, OH, and Rebecca (Douglas) Smock of San Antonio, TX, six grandchildren Sarah (Kale) Schulz of Brecksville, OH, Jennifer Brizius of Lakewood, OH, Megan Smock of Fort Worth, TX,  Casey (Griffin) Kirchner of Fort Worth, TX, Joseph (Rebecca) Reinke of St. Paul, MN, and Jesse (Sarah) Reinke of New Richmond, WI, two great grandchildren Lucas and Adelyn Schulz of Brecksville, OH, and nieces, nephews, and one cousin.

Doris Gene graduated from Manchester College North Manchester, Indiana with a B. S. in Education in 1947.  She started her teaching career in Avilla, Indiana and then moved to the elementary school in Ligonier, Indiana where she retired in 1978 after 29 years of teaching.

Following her marriage to Col. Ferrari in 1978, Jean moved to San Antonio, TX where she led an active life.  She volunteered as a tutor at Lockhill Elementary School. One of her favorite pastimes was flower gardening, so it was natural for her to join the Hunters Creek Garden Club. Doris Gene was active with the Assistance League of San Antonio for many years. She was a member of University United Methodist Church where she participated in Bible Study, Sunday school and other activities. She mentored children through the San Antonio Education Partnership program that her husband, Col. Vic Ferrari, started through USAA in conjunction with the military bases in San Antonio.

Doris Gene had a passion for helping others learn.  When her first husband was tragically killed, she established a memorial scholarship through the Indiana University School of Dentistry to assist students studying dental professions.  When Col. Ferrari, her second husband, passed away she established a memorial scholarship for San Antonio high school students to attend college.  She also established a scholarship in Ligonier, Indiana to benefit West Noble High School students pursuing post-secondary education.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Doris Gene Alber Ferrari Scholarship or Ligonier Public Library, ℅ Community Foundation of Noble County, 1599 Lincolnway South, Ligonier, IN 46767 or at https://cfnoble.org/donate-now/donate-online/

Visitation and memorial service will be held at the Ligonier United Methodist Church, Ligonier, IN, July 21, 2022 at 10am visitation and 11am service followed by a reception.  A private interment at Oakpark Cemetery in Ligonier, IN will follow the reception.  Arrangements are with Yeager Funeral Home in Ligonier, IN.