Doris Elaine (Elender) Ray

Doris Elaine (Elender) Ray

(Oct. 15, 1918 – Dec. 23, 2020)

In the early morning hours of December 23rd, Mom passed away peacefully in her sleep at Bridgeport Medical Lodge in Bridgeport, Texas where she resided for the past 5 years.

Prior to that, she lived with my wife Denice and me for 11 years and insisted on taking care of herself - washing her own clothes, cleaning her own bathroom, among many other things people much younger have trouble with, or are unable to do. Independent? YES!

She was a stay-at-home mom in Beaumont, Texas, where she raised my three siblings, Eileen, Robert L., and Penny until they were on their own. At that point, Mom’s travels had consisted of a trip to Wisconsin with her parents as a teen-ager and a couple vacations to Arkansas with the family. But her world would change drastically.

One day in 1960, Dad came home and asked if she would like to go to Libya. As a dutiful wife (Pr. 31:10-31) she said “Of course.” (Then we got out the Encyclopedia and an atlas to find out just exactly where we were going!)

Before Dad retired, Mom had traveled to England, Holland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Libya, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Iraq. (Not a bad accomplishment for a high school graduate from Thomas Jefferson H.S and oil field wife from Port Arthur, Texas.)

As can be imagined, at 102 years old, she had outlived most of her friends and family, including two children, Robert Lynn, and Penny Jolyne, leaving the oldest, Dorothy Eileen and youngest, Don Kirk.

She had 15 Grandchildren: Craig (Dec.), Karen, Mark, Glenn, Sharon, Brian, Roger, Terry Lynn, Allen, Kevin, Doris Jean (Dec.), Robert, Christine, Scott, and Melissa; as well as many Great and Great-Great Grandchildren.

Mom will be missed by all that knew her, but we know that she is among many friends and family now that she is at home with Jesus.

Don Ray