Docie Weger

DOCIE WEGER, 'HOOSIERLAND SWEETHEART', DIES AT 95 Docie Weger passed from this earth under the full light of the Harvest Moon on Friday, September 16, 2016. She was born May 20,1921 in the hardest of times to her mother, Emora Romine Coleman, who was blind and a father, Frank Coleman, who had been killed before she was born. Her mother had no means to care for her three young children and so they were taken to the Chauncey Rose Orphans Home. Docie always remembered and cherished the loving attention she was shown by the ladies at the orphanage as they washed her tiny face and hands and tied ribbons in her hair. Eventually she was reunited with her mother who had remarried. Docie's school teacher, Lulu Chickadaunce, always told everyone Docie was the smartest student she ever taught. Docie received two double promotions and graduated from Honey Creek High School at the age of almost 16. She eventually got a job at the Ration Board, handing out ration coupons for goods that were in short supply during World War II. It was at that time she met a good looking young man named Harry Weger who fell head over heels in love with her. But she was having no part of any guy who was after her. Every single guy in town was chasing her a�" not only because she was a great looking babe - but she was the one handing out ration coupons for gasoline and tires and other hard-to-come-by necessities. But Harry would not be deterred. And besides, he played the guitar and sang and won every talent show for miles around - and all the girls were chasing him. And so it was meant to be - Harry and Docie were married. And what a life it was! They made beautiful music together for 63 years. He played the guitar and sang and emceed the show and she - tiny thing that she was, barely five feet tall - played the great big standup bass fiddle. They put together a country & western band - Harry Weger & the Hoosierland Hoedown - and Docie was 'The Hoosierland Sweetheart.' They toured all over the country with Grand Ole Opry acts from Roy Acuff & the Smokey Mountain Boys to Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs & the Foggy Mountain Boys, Porter Waggoner &

Dolly Parton, The Wilburn Brothers, George Hamilton IV, Dottie West, Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys, and many others. Harry and Docie were both inducted into the Wabash Valley Musicians Hall of Fame. They operated a record shop in downtown Terre Haute for many years which was the place for hot rock & roll and country & western recording artists to drop in while touring on the road, and when word got out the stars were visiting hundreds of screaming teenagers would descend on the place demanding autographs and photographs. t When the record business was no longer fashionable, Docie went back to work for the government a�" first as Chief Deputy Recorder of Vigo County, and ending her career as Vigo County's Chief Deputy Auditor. Docie said she and Harry loved traveling the road in show business but their greatest production was their family. She was preceded in death by Harry, and a son, Rex. She is survived by a daughter, Vicki Weger and her husband, Ted Elbert, a daughter-in-law Rachel Weger of Indianapolis, and son David and daughter-in-law Donna Weger of Terre Haute; grandchildren: Dr. Benjamin Weger (Christina) of San Antonio TX, Natalie Meier (Aaron) Tucson AZ, Laura Tohill (Jesse) Terre Haute, Courtney Weger (Tara Anderson) Terre Haute; great grandchildren: Nicholas, Brynley, Adelaide, & Zoe Weger, Emma, Jesse, & Grace Tohill, and Brody Weger. Perhaps it was the experience of being taken to the orphan's home that made her stronger than ordinary people. She talked about it often. It made her tough. She would not suffer defeat. She would not be intimidated and she did not fear anyone. She was brave and loyal and fearless to the very end of her life. These are the traits she taught her children which they gratefully carry on in her memory. Visitation will be Wednesday September 21, from 4 pm until 8 pm at Fitzpatrick Funeral Home in West Terre Haute. Eastern Star Chapter #428 will conduct a memorial service at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon on Thursday, September 22nd.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions given to The Connecting Link, 830 W. National Avenue, West Terre Haute, IN 47885.