Doris Earlyne Underwood

Doris Waddell Muller Underwood went home to our lord on February 29, 2024. She was born December 29, 1927, the first child of Bee and Willard Waddell in Goose Creek, Texas. Later, she moved to Cedar Bayou and then Ingleside, where her dad worked at Humble Oil. As a young girl, she was active in Girl Scouts and a baton twirler at Ingleside High School. After graduation, Doris joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps and attended the University of Texas. She received her nursing diploma from Brackenridge Hospital in 1948. Together they had four daughters: Linda, Carole, Cindy and Darlene. Ed began an architectural engineering firm where Doris assisted with financial matters.

Devoted to her family, she became a scout leader, Mother Advisor of Rainbow Girls, and active in the PTA. The family enjoyed many vacations in the early years across the United States. Once they traveled with the Jaycees to Disneyland wearing matching Cowgirls outfits.

Ed built a landmark house in Memorial Bend with a bomb shelter due to the Cuban missile crisis. She and Ed were active in the Arabian Shrine Temple.

Doris married Jay Underwood on November 11, 1977 and continued involvement with the Shriners.

Her lifelong connection with Jesus and The Methodist Church began in Goose Creek and continued with her lifelong friendships with the Voyagers Class of St. Mark's and The Bridge Builders Class of Memorial Drive Methodist in 1961 when it was meeting at Bendwood Elementary before the new church was constructed. She attended the church until she moved to an independent living facility in 2022.

Doris enjoyed traveling to Europe and Asia. Wonderful memories were made when she took her granddaughters to Paris, cruises with grandchildren, and the female family members to the Ritz Carlton in Maui, Hawaii. She was the "Swee Dee" member of Shriner Clown Ministry, the first leader of Kitchen "Gut Bucket Band" and trip coordinator for the Prime Timers and the Gallivanters.

Doris is best known for her 2,500 dolls which began on her first trip to Europe when Cindy asked for a doll from every country. Her collection bloomed quickly to include celebrities, ethnicities, and oddities, such as many Shirley Temple originals, the Dionne quintets, Gay Bob, the exorcist doll, pregnant Barbie, an thousands more. Jay built her large working electric dollhouse outfitted for different seasons. Her other talents included detailed cross-stitching and Brazilian embroidery. She enjoyed square dancing, clogging, and Shrine dances with Jay.

She is survived by her four daughters Meredith (Joe) Franks, Carol (David) Floyd, Cindy (Jim) Hudson, and Darlene (Jack) DeBoer. Also, nine grandchildren: Alison Rice, Matt Bridge, Lee Ann Lavender, Aaron Lavender, Ryan Lavender, Marianne Horton, Lindsay Hollomon, Julie Colter, and Scott DeBoer. She also leaves behind her brother, Larry Waddell, and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay Underwood, her grandson, David Lavender, her sister Beverly Blumrick, and her parents, Willard Waddell, and Bee Waddell.