How can I copy a layer with its complete appearance settings from one doc to another?

I have it set to remember layers when I copy/paste between documents, but no matter what I do, it does not copy across the layers' settings for fill and stroke.
I set up  a template for my sections, where each layer  has a fill and stroke set, but the objects themselves are set to blank so that they get their appearance from the layer. But when I copy those objects into a new document, the colors that I set the layer to do not also copy across.
I tried saving graphic styles, but they save blank for these objects.
Template document:

Pasted into a second doc:

Almost all colours have vanished.