Doris Mae McNeill Laubach

Doris Mae McNeill Laubach passed into the arms of her beloved Lord on October 7. She is survived by her children Larry Laubach, his wife Catherine; Kathy Rothen, her husband Robert; Gerald Laubach, his wife Debra; Lu Ann Lockerbie, her husband Owen; and James Laubach and his wife Rene, as well as grandchildren: Jennifer and Kevin Garcia-Hettinger, Amy and Ryan Park, Lisa and Oscar Macias, Stephanie and Tony Ward, Matthew Laubach, Jason and Stefanie Geroianni, Brandi Geroianni, Daniel and Rachel Lockerbie; and great-grandchildren Ashlee, Kaitlin, Jaime, Bella, Devin, Jakob, Nicholas, Vincent, William, Celeste, Harrison, Lennon, Lhana; and great-great- granddaughter Hailey; brother Warren McNeill and wife Bernice, sister Lura Wurzbach and husband Bill, sisters-in-law Dorise Staudt and Dorothy Brown, brother Grover McNeill and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Elmer and daughter Dorothy.

Born on January 19, 1927 in San Antonio, Texas, to James and Frieda McNeill, Doris was her mother's joy. A child of the Depression, she picked cotton, worked in a bakery, and helped her mother at an early age. Never daunted by hard work, she brought joy into everything she did. She met the love of her life, Elmer, at church in Bulverde, where they sang duets. She gave her six children a rich life of fun, good food, and especially a firm faith. Her life was a pattern of faithfulness, to God, to her husband, and her family, but also to everyone she met. Her warmth and kindness knew no boundaries, and she embraced each day with energy, hope, and love.

She served as Sunday School teacher and superintendent at Gethsemane Lutheran Church for many years blessing the children with patience and love as she led the singing and taught various age groups. At every job she held - S & H Green Stamps, Woolco, UT Health Science Center, and QVC - she modeled diligence, loyalty, and positive energy. Her co-workers loved how she cared for them as family. All through her life she loved to travel - to the coast, to Houston to visit her Daddy and see an Astro's game, to Goliad for family reunions, to London for a special trip with Elmer and his Handy Andy coworkers, and to Colorado, where she and Elmer spend their early retirement years in Loveland, CO, their little "heaven on earth" - but her heart always pulled her home to family where she was the bedrock and anchor for so many.

Returning to San Antonio, she was blessed with a church family at Our Savior Lutheran where she met dear friends to share in worship, Bible study, and fellowship. When Elmer was hospitalized, she spent every day from morning till evening at his bedside and became a blessing to other nursing home residents and staff. After his passing, her church family helped sustain her, especially Pastor Tim Soukup, and her beloved friend Dorothy Wiede, whom she loved as a sister.

Doris's joy was in gathering her family together for meals, football games (she loved the Dallas Cowboys), birthday parties, picnics, and reunions. She embodied Christ's call to be His hands and feet on earth, especially for the less fortunate. Giving was her gift, and knowing what each person needed at the moment they met helped her be an instrument of God's peace and joy. Those who know her remember her best for the words that came most often and most sincerely to her lips: "Bless your heart!"

Her family would like to thank all who ministered to her throughout her life as well as toward the end, especially Cora, Meagan, Alex, Valerie, Stacy, Joann, and Melissa who made her passing a peaceful one.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Porter Loring on McCullough Ave.

SERVICE

FRIDAY

OCTOBER 17, 2014

10:00 A.M.

OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

11503 VANCE JACKSON ROAD

Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.