Doris Willis

Doris was born on October 21, 1932, to Ellis Mattox and Flora Goforth Mattox and went to be with the Lord on February 20, 2023. Born in rural Mississippi her childhood was spent playing with her sisters and many cousins.

In 1954 she graduated from Alcorn High School and moved to Pecos, Texas. Here her friend, Thelma Cook introduced her to Nick Lois Carter who she married in 1954. She gave birth to two daughters, DeVonne Carter Tatum and Melinda Kay Carter Carlson. In Odessa the church, Kingston Avenue Baptist Church, then Crescent Park Baptist Church, was central to their lives. Throughout Doris's life, her faith grew as she saw God's provision through hard and easy times.

In 1976, Nick divorced her, leaving her determined to get a teaching degree and support her two daughters. By writing grant letters and applying for every scholarship she could, she became a teacher. She found that teaching came naturally to her, and she taught at the junior high level all the way to the college level.

As a single woman, in her 50's Doris befriended the young singles at her church. To this day, she has friends who are 40 years younger than she.

In 1987 she caught the eye of John Willis, a handsome widower at her church. On August 29, 1987 they married adding two daughters, Patty Willis Melton, and Nancy Willis O'Meara Krenek to her folks to love. These were wonderful days for Doris. John's quiet, loving manner and abiding faith in God were lights in her life. Their marriage flourished until John's death in January, 2006.

Doris continued her life in Odessa where she was a Women's Sunday School teacher, played bunko with her sisters and friends, joined a book club, bought a darling shihtzu, Buddy, and hosted parties for nieces, nephews, her sisters and friends.

In 2017, her memory began to decline so she moved to Fort Worth to be close to her daughter, DeVonne. In her last days she lived at Colonial Garden Memory Care. Even as her memory failed, her life-long habit of gratitude and courtesy to others never left her.

We are grateful for LaShonda, Katrina, Kaitlin, Judy, Amanda, Candace, Bea, Stephanie, and all the staff who treated Ms. Doris with love and respect.

She is survived by 4 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, her sister, 1 nephew, 3 nieces and great nephews and nieces.

The service will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 9:30 for visitation, service at 10:00 at Crescent Park Baptist Church.

Memorials to Crescent Park Baptist Church and ROCKride.org Georgetown