Doris Elizabeth Bradley Jones

Doris (Dot or Dottie to her family) was born in Appalachia, Virginia, the daughter of Charles and Helen Bradley. Doris graduated from Sullivan High School in 1955, and went to Memphis at the age of 17 to attend the University of Tennessee Dental Hygiene Program. She worked as a dental hygienist with the Sullivan County Health Department for eight years.

Doris and her husband, Sam, were married in 1963, and started their lives together in Roanoke, Virginia, then lived in Peru, Indiana, and in Richmond, Virginia before moving to Blountville, Tennessee in 1969. Doris was the mother of two daughters, Beth and Carol, and was devoted to her children and grandchildren.

A longtime member of Cassidy United Methodist Church, Doris served the Lord as a youth and adult Sunday School teacher. She especially enjoyed teaching the senior ladies’ class, whose members she referred to as “The Saints of Cassidy.” Doris also served her church as a choir member and in numerous leadership roles on various church committees over the years.

Doris was an excellent cook. She served up holiday feasts, favorite dishes at the church suppers, and milkshakes to the family at the pool in the summers. She was also a skilled seamstress and lovingly handcrafted unique Christmas stockings for each member of the family and made numerous ornaments for the tree.

For many years, Doris and Sam traveled throughout the Eastern United States to attend car shows for Edsel owners. She enjoyed laughter, picnics in the Smokies, trips to the beach, family cookouts, holiday gatherings, and the music of Elvis Presley and Barry Manilow. She loved sports, especially football and basketball, and followed both collegiate and professional teams.

Left to cherish her memory are: her husband, Sam; daughters and sons-in-law, Beth and Stan Crawford and Carol and Rusty Baker; grandchildren, Madelyn Crawford Houser (Joshua), Caroline Crawford Campbell (Jonah), Sam Baker, and step-granddaughter Emily Baker; great-grandchildren, Joanna and Elliott Houser, and Annie Katherine Campbell; sister-in-law, Patricia Carnes; niece, Cheryl Toney (Reedy); and great-niece, Kaelin Toney.

A service of remembrance was held for the family at East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park on May 17, 2025. Memorial donations may be made to Cassidy Methodist Church, 5801 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport, TN 37664, (423) 323-8142, www.cassidymethodistchurch.org.