She was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on March 1,1918.
Mary Doris graduated from North Dallas High School and attended The University of Texas in Austin for three years, majoring in English. She worked at Bell Telephone (now AT&T) for 23 years as a Supervisor and Instructor, answering calls from their business clients. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas, where she was an active member, serving on the Altar Guild.
She had a passion for tap-dancing, which she continued into her 80’s. She also enjoyed traveling all over the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean and other countries with her husband, Buford. In her spare time, she loved to sew and read, especially mysteries, and was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee D. and Norma (Whitten) Heckman, her brother, Thomas Lee Heckman, Sr. and her husband, Buford Franklin Sutherland. She is survived by her niece and nephew-in-law, Helen and Paul “Butch” Todd, her nephew, Thomas Heckman, Jr., four step-children, Dick (and Jennifer) Sutherland Sylvia (and Ron) Jabara, David (and Ann) Sutherland and Sandra (and Tony) Pipes and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Her funeral will be held on Monday, February 7th, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas. Family will receive friends at the viewing from 1:30-2:15 pm on Saturday, followed by the funeral service in the Sparkman Chapel at 2:30 pm. Interment will follow on grounds of the funeral home at 3:30 pm.
