Doris Ann Bright

With incredible sadness and pain, but in celebration of her life, we share news of the passing of our beloved and precious Mom and “Grams,” Doris Ann Bright (Olson). Doris touched many hearts; she was genuine, gentle and kind, and Doris cared deeply about her family, friends, and students. Her love was unconditional, and her loss is staggering.

Doris was the daughter of a minister, and she loved Jesus and the Church, upon which she centered her life. She lived a Christian life by her example but also as a servant of Jesus. She experienced health difficulties and physical pain throughout much of her adult life, and she suffered great loss with the early passing of her beloved daughter, Carla Matchler, and the loss of her beloved husband of more than fifty years, Gary Bright, but her faith was unshakeable, and she always remained joyful, loved to smile and laugh, and made you know how happy she was to see you. One of her greatest strengths was making people feel welcomed and loved.

Since Gary died in February of 2019, Doris was learning to adjust and find her new way. Moving forward without him was difficult, and she deeply missed him; but in true Doris fashion, she found people, neighbors, friends and family, with whom she found fellowship and shared her special light. But the Pandemic forced yet another adjustment, since Doris was not made to sit at home. Like many of you, the last few months were difficult for her. She particularly was distressed to be separated from her great grandchildren, whom she loved very much. She wanted desperately to see them.

Doris was born on November 21, 1939, in Milwaukee, grew up in Fort Wayne, and attended high school in Oak Park, Illinois. She spent many joyful summers at a family cabin in Winona Lake, Indiana – the cabin her late father named the “IlaByJimDo” in honor of Doris and her siblings. After graduating from high school, Doris went to Northern Baptist Seminary (now Judson College), where she graduated with a degree in Education and met Gary. They married in 1961, and the Army moved them to Germany, where Carla was born in 1963. After Gary completed his military service, they returned to Illinois, and she gave birth to Mark in 1965. The family moved to Arizona almost fifty years ago.

Doris dedicated her career to teaching in elementary school. In her teaching career, as in all other aspects of her life, she demonstrated kindness and love to her students and colleagues. She was also known for being able to lovingly but effectively handle the most challenging students, and these gifts and skills came as no surprise to her own kids! Over the years, both before and during retirement, Doris continued to find still more ways to care for others, including providing housing to family members, volunteering and visiting at the hospital or church with friends and relatives during difficult times, and simply being a person that anyone could genuinely “count on” to be there.

During her years as “Matriarch” of the family, particularly as she and Gary enjoyed retirement, she enjoyed spending time at their cabin in Pinetop, helping and enjoying their great grandsons, playing games (including banter with her great grandson-in-law), and traveling with friends and family. A few of Doris’ favorites were family vacations to Hawaii, the annual Las Vegas trip with the Webers, and Estes Park to visit her niece, Randi Olson. Doris spent her life enjoying her favorite places and her favorite people.

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to this most precious person, but we are grateful for her life, and we feel overwhelming pride that she was ours. We know she is now at peace, free of pain, and reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, daughter, parents, siblings, countless family and friends, and her Lord.

Doris is survived by her son, Mark Bright of Gardner, Kansas; granddaughter, Tara Buchanon (Matchler) of Mesa and her husband, Kenny Buchanon; great grandsons, JR and Ollie Buchanon; and nieces, nephews, and all of her treasured family and friends.

The family asks that you please share a special memory of Doris; and after the pandemic ends, we will reunite to celebrate her life. May God bless each of you.

With much love, the Bright, Buchanon, and Olson Families