Earl Cornelius Dormer, son of George Albert (1880-1968) and Eva Adelia (Bristol) (1885-1966) Dormer, was born 1 March 1911, Eaton County, Michigan. He graduated 1929 from Okemos High School. Earl participated on the 1928 OHS football team.
On 5 August 1923, Lansing, Ingham County, Earl married Frances Lucille Farrand.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 20 August 1937
Miss Frances Lucille Farrand of Lansing and Earl C. Dormer of Okemos were married August 5 at Plymouth Congregational church by the Rev. Gordon C. Speer. They were attended by Miss Helen Dormer of Okemos and Wayne Perkin of Williamston. Mr. and Mrs. Dormer are now at home on North Pennsylvania avenue.
Frances, born 21 February 1918, Lansing, died 18 November 1976, Lansing. She was interred Deepdale Memorial Park, Eaton County, Michigan.
Earl owned and ran a heating and air-conditioning business. He was very involved in his community.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 1 August 1974
EARL DORMER DELTA 'GADFLY'
He's small, he's thin and he's not getting any younger, but that doesn't stop Earl Dormer from keeping what he calls "the fastest township west of the Atlantic" on the ball.
Dormer, 61, a resident of Delta Township who speaks up on one thing or another at nearly every township meeting, said he tries to know what's going on so that he can keep township officials in line.
Dressed in a white tee-shirt, work pants and work shoes, Dormer took time off from his heating and air-conditioning business - for which he is the sole employee - to explain his avid interest in local politics.
"Sometimes out officials slip a little bit and I like to be around to keep them on the ball," he said. "They sometimes forget they're representing the people and to themselves."
One way in which dormer keeps officials in line, besides attending most board meetings, is through petitions he circulates throughout the community.
"Last year, the board wanted to put fluoride in the water and I didn't think people wanted it," he said. "So I circulated a petition and in four days I had more than 400 signatures."
"When township officials saw that, they knew I meant business and agreed not to put fluoride in the water at that time," he explained. "I told them to put fluoride in milk and let those who want it, but it."
Township supervisor Ted Early said he has a lot of respect for Dormer, even though Early doesn't think Dormer's always right.
"I wish we had more people like him," said Early. "I respect the man for being a concerned citizen."
"Sometimes he's right, other times he's wrong, but then again, so is everyone who is human," he explained.
Besides the fluoridation petition, Dormer has also circulated others. Right now, in preparation for the November election, he is circulation a petition to oust the Eaton County Sheriff's office from Delta Township.
Dormer, when asked why he spends so much time circulating petitions, smiles, then laughs and gives the following answer:
"I do this for my entertainment," I get a lot of satisfaction from doing it - You'd be surprised on how many people you get to know in the community.
"Besides that, since I'm in business for myself, I would have to pay more income taxes if I worked a lot, so I take time off and circulate petitions as a hobby."
Earl died 29 August 1993, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 31 August 1993
DORMER, EARL C., 81, of Bangor, formerly of Lansing, retired plumbing and heating contractor, died Sunday. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday at D. L. Miller Funeral Home, Bangor.