Doris Jean Norris-Arnett, 80, of Wellington, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, at the Sumner Regional Medical Center in Wellington, with her daughters by her side.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday Aug. 19, 2008 at the Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home of Wellington with the Pastor Phil Wylie officiating. Interment will be in the Sumner Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
She was born, Doris Jean Norris on July 9, 1928, to Myrl Miller Norris and Loren Earl Norris, at Ames, Okla. The family moved to the Wellington area in 1930. Doris was raised and educated in Wellington and loved to be around her many friends and family. She later married, and began her family with two beautiful children, Jackie and Robin Amberg. She raised and educated her children in Wellington, however with her girls grown and on their own, Doris relocated to Wichita to the daily commutes to Boeing Aircraft. She remained at Boeing for many years as a PBX Communications Operator until her retirement.
After retirement, she chose to fill her days by working part-time at Wesley Medical Center as a Switchboard Operator. Doris loved to help people, and communications was a medium by which she could use her abilities to assist those in need.
In 2005, Doris returned to Wellington, eventually residing at Alterra Sterling House. There she was content with some familiar acquaintances, as well as new. Old memories would find her sitting out in the Gardens of Alterra. She truly loved the flowers, and the small talk made for a pleasant evening, when she was feeling well.
Memories of family and friends, past and present, both haunted and gave her comfort. She was meticulous and precise. She was the keeper of family lineage; dates, and times, events- and she was always correct, even if inaccurate (which was rare) you dare not quarrel.
Doris was very strong willed and independent; life and circumstances had made her that way. She was outwardly tough, perhaps even eccentric; but inwardly very soft hearted and tender. She would give you any possession of hers that you admired, and often did. She believed in doing things “Right”-the proper way, and she expected others to follow that same creed. If they did not, she would react in a very stern manner! “That was Mom!”
She is survived by two daughters, Jackie and Jim Edwards of Hutchinson and Robin and Tom Tompkins of Wellington; four grandchildren, Jamie and Laurie Edwards, Curtis and Melissa Edwards, Dustin Johnson and Libby Driver, and Hailey Johnson and Gabrelle Vazquez; six great-grandchildren, Braxton, Breckyn, Brookelyn, Blaire, Brylee and lil’ Blaze; several step grand and great-grandchildren of Enid, Oklahoma; two brothers, Lavern Norris of Clovis, N.M. and Jerry and Joanie Norris of Wellington; numerous nieces and nephews.
Doris Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Loren and Myrll Norris of Wellington; one brother, William (Bill) Norris of Wellington; two granddaughters, Mistie Dawn Rayl and Stormie Brooke Rayl-Zimmerman, both of Wellington.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the Alterra Sterling House of Wellington. Contributions can be left with or mailed to the funeral home.
For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.hawksfuneralhome.com
Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Wellington, Kan. —
