Dorris Jayne Deal Childers, 85, went to her eternal home on February 3, 2016, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. The daughter of WF and Nettie Louise Richardson Deal, Dorris Jayne was born March 6, 1930, in Coleman County, Texas. She graduated from the Mozelle High School and furthered her education in Abilene, Texas, at Durham Business College. Professionally she was a bookkeeper and office manager, retiring from Wood Brothers in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dorris is survived by four children: Deonna Childers Williams and husband Tom, of Elgin, Texas; Donal Childers II and wife Deborha of Avondale, Arizona; David Childers and wife Karen, of Claremont, California and Dan Childers and wife Lynette of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Eight grandchildren: Donal Childers III and wife Jennifer, Delayna Childers, Douglas Williams and wife Angela, Tamara Fields and husband Chad, Meredith Schanen and husband Andy, Kesila Childers, Cody Childers and Analisa Childers and husband Alexander D’Amato; Eighteen great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, two sisters in law Judy Deal and Betty Deal and numerous nephews and nieces.
Dorris Jayne was preceded in death by her son Douglas Ray, her parents W.F. and Nettie Louise, and Brothers Billy Jack, Walter and Thomas Deal.
In her time of leisure, she was passionate about being a homemaker which was a good thing with five children. As well as homemaking she had an eye and talent for fashion and enjoyed designing and sewing clothing for both herself and her daughter, cooking, gardening, decorating, crafting, reading, writing, researching genealogy, studying history, and later, rocking the babies at church. Many of these talents were passed down to her children and even grandchildren.
Dorris was resourceful and found ways to encourage her children in their different interests. Dorris made sure that there was a basketball goal in the driveway and she even gave up her part of her laundry room to be made into a dark room.
She was a strong woman of faith that loved her Lord Jesus and read her Bible daily for as long as she could. Dorris was passionate about missions and quick to do whatever was needed to support missions whether financially or giving of her time and talents. She was a long time member of Maryland Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona and at the time of her death was a member of First Baptist Church Elgin, Texas. Dorris was also a firm disciplinarian and a woman to be reckoned with. She could be very private and serious and her family knew that you did not cross her. Yet, she was also a quick witted, fun loving, sassy lady who enjoyed a good prank and having the last laugh. She was adventurous and traveled throughout the United States with family and even abroad on several trips with close friends, DC and Carolyn Martin and Freida Davis. She loved her country and was a proud American. Through researching her lineage she became a proud member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Colonists, and Daughters of the Republic of Texas, The National Society Colonial Dames XVII (17th) Century and National Society United States Daughters of 1812.
As Freida said when speaking of Dorris Jayne, there are not enough words to describe all that she was. But, we will remember her as our loving mother, grandmother, Gigi, sister in law, aunt, cousin and friend.
Graveside funeral service for Dorris will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Brown Ranch Cemetery Pavilion with her son-in-law, Tom Williams officiating. Burial will be in the Brown Ranch Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.livingmemorials.com.
