In Memorial: Doris Hendren - Erwin

[doeriver]

Doris Hendren - ERWIN
Johnson City Press - Obituaries
Published on Tuesday, July 7, 2009
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Obituaries/article.php?ID=24740



Doris Hendren - ERWIN

Doris Hendren left this Earth on Monday, July 6, 2009 and her body was donated to the University of Tennessee, Memphis College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology for study. Doris was born on a sunny day June 27, 1916 in LaFollette, TN. She never thought she would live as long as she did. With this being said she was preceded in death by just about everybody. So bear with me as her immediate family members, whom she outlived, are listed: her mother and father, Joseph E. and Magnolia M. Hendren, LaFollette, TN; one half-sister, Maggie Lee Whitaker and husband Harold, Richmond, KY; two half-brothers, Earle Hendren and wife Maude, Erwin, TN, and Carl Hendren, Middlesboro, KY; two nephews Joe Hendren and wife Barbara Hendren, Erwin, TN and Bobby Joe Whitaker, Mt. Sterling, KY; and great-nephews Lee M. Hendren, Erwin, TN, and Jaye Evans, Atlanta, GA. Other than family members who passed before her were many friends, several loves, and a few antagonists.

Doris survived nearly everything, besides the obvious, and will be missed and remembered by those who remain. These include her family in Erwin, TN including Ann Hendren, Jan Hendren Parsley, Alexa Parsley, Trey Prasley, and Lisa W. Webb and husband Danny; her family in Knoxville, TN, including Luann Hendren and Jody Hendren; and family in Richmond and Mt. Sterling KY, including Thomas Whitaker and wife Carolyn; Tommie Lynn Powers and husband Joe; Mary Joe Whitaker; Peggy Gandolfo; Bobbie Whitaker and wife Regina; and Billy Whitaker and wife Jayne.

Doris lived most of her life and made most of her memories in Knoxville, TN, where she attended Draughon’s Business School in the 1930s. She worked for Baumann & Baumann architects (Griffen, Mynatt, & Kaatz) from 1937-1979, where she served as secretary/bookkeeper for forty-two years. During this time she saw many statewide architectural projects through to completion including Unicoi County Memorial Hospital. In 1979 she retired from the working world and in 1988 moved to Erwin, TN, to be closer to her nephew Joe and his family.

Having lived nearly a century and keeping her wits about her until the end she chose to live alone. Her much loved and loyal dog Cracker was her companion for several years. Doris survived nearly every major event of the twentieth century including both World Wars, the flu pandemic, the Women’s Suffrage movement, Prohibition, desegregation, and the Bush Administration.

She loved politics and consumed it daily. A proud and progressive Democrat, she was thrilled that she lived long enough to cast a Presidential vote for Barack Obama. She cast her first vote in 1940 for FDR and voted in every election thereafter. She thrived on current events and listened daily to National Public Radio and MSNBC.

Doris was an avid supporter of the Arts and a voracious reader. Her weekly visits to the library allowed her to devour hundreds of books over her lifetime. It was one of the shared interests she had with her beloved mother. Her favorite books included mysteries. In later years she refused to let macular degeneration keep her from her love of books and continued to receive audio books provided by TN School for the Blind.

Friends may call at the home of Jan Hendren Parsley, 609 N. Mohawk Drive, Erwin, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to National Public Radio, TN School for the Blind, East Tennessee State University, or the charity of your choice. Private burial will be held at a later date.

Provided by Valley Funeral Home, 1085 N. Main Ave., Erwin, TN 37650. 423-743-9187

[Claire Beth]

1. May she RIP....n/t