Colleen Doyle

Colleen Mary McMahon Doyle of Erie, died peacefully on February 21, 2021 after a wonderful, long, and well lived life.   She was born on May 18, 1928, in Buffalo, NY.  Colleen was the daughter of Robert Francis McMahon and Therese Lenore Kelleher, the sister of Cynthia McMahon Nowlin, of Gretna, Louisiana, and the sister-in-law of Kathleen and Patrick Doyle, Sr., who preceded Colleen in death. Colleen was the granddaughter of Erie Fire Chief, John J. McMahon.

Colleen is survived by her beloved husband, John J. Doyle, and their 5 children. Two daughters - Elizabeth (“Beth”) Doyle Legler and her husband, Patrick Legler, of Erie, PA, and Colleen Doyle Andrews and her husband, Bill Andrews of Allison Park, PA.  Three sons - John J. Doyle, III and his wife, Betsy Lechtner Doyle of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Robert W. Doyle, Sr. and his wife, Lynne Kinsella Doyle of Erie, PA; and Michael J. Doyle, Sr. and his wife, Cheryl Gachowski Doyle of Potomac, MD.  John and Colleen, Sr have 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. 

Colleen grew up on Lincoln Avenue in Erie’s Frontier neighborhood and was a founding member of the Lincoln Avenue Gang, along with her sister - Cynthia, and Mary Quinn Scolio, Frances Quinn Busceck, and Jack Young.   Colleen proudly attended Mercyhurst Prep High School and College.  Colleen also worked for the Burke Electric Company before marrying John in 1951.  They spent their first year of marriage in Newport News, VA where John had his first engineering job following his college graduation and returned to Erie in 1952.   Along with supporting her husband’s career, Colleen was a consistent volunteer in her children’s schools and sport activities, along with local organizations.   She logged many hours of volunteering for the Kahkwa Club and Erie Y swim teams, St. Peter’s Cathedral School, St. Jude Parish, St. Vincent’s Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, Mother to Mother Program and Habitat for Humanity.  Colleen loved to garden and enjoyed being a member of the Erie Garden Club.

Colleen was fun loving and caring; she made long lasting friendships throughout her life.   She and John loved their Erie “Supper Club” group.  She continued to grow her circle of friends when she and John found their Cook Forest home – Yankee Hill in 1968.   They cherished all the memories at “Camp” with their children, friends, neighbors, and a menagerie of pets:  bunny rabbits, turtles, dogs, horses, and an occasional cat.

Colleen had a zest for life.  She so enjoyed travelling with John, their family and friends.  Some of their most memorable trips were the California coast, Caribbean Sea sailing trips, European bike tours, a favorite northern Ontario island in the middle of Lake Huron, the shores of Hobe Sound, FL, and Lake Erie’s Presque Isle.  Colleen was happiest to be outside and doing something fun.

Colleen was the anchor to her family.  She was a woman of a strong, never failing faith, strength, and courage.   She was an active Christian and attended Mass almost daily, frequently at St. Peter Cathedral, St. Jude or St. Patrick parishes in Erie, St. Dominic in Sigel, PA, St. Christopher in Hobe Sound, FL and Our Lady of Mercy in Boca Grande, FL.  Colleen lived her life by her guiding Christian values and instilled those beliefs in her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  We are thankful for such tremendous memories of our Mom and Gramma Doyle.  She brightened every day of our lives. 

We thank Cathy McConnell of Home Instead for the faithful and loving care given to our parents.  Also, a huge thank you to the entire staff of Saint Mary’s Asbury Ridge for the high-quality care provided to Colleen in her final years.

We ask for donations to be made in Colleen’s honor to Erie County Meals on Wheels, Erie Zoological Society, Erie County Library, or to the Erie County Alzheimer’s Association.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Erie on Saturday, May 8, 2021. There will be a celebration luncheon following the Memorial Mass.   Arrangements entrusted to the Burton Quinn Scott Cremation and Funeral Services, 3801 West 26^th St. Erie.

Send condolences at www.BurtonQuinnScott.com.