Doris L. Jennings

Doris Jennings passed away on March 12, 2008, in Austin, Texas. She was born on May 7, 1922, one of seven children of Vic and Mamie Lawrence. She grew up on a farm in Dawson, Texas, riding a mule to school and working in her family's cotton fields. As a young woman, she put herself through nursing school, specializing in anesthesia and earning her CRNA in St. Louis, Missouri. Her career as a nurse anesthetist was spent in Austin where she worked at Brackenridge and other local hospitals. On December 1, 1960, she married Al Jennings, who had three children, Joanne, Clyde and A.P. After Al passed away on January 7, 1967, Doris continued working in various hospitals in Austin until her retirement. Doris was passionately engaged in life. Her many interests included needlepoint, reading, cooking, travel, and supporting the New York Yankees. She valued her numerous friends and neighbors, special among them Mary Ann Houtz, Peggy Staehely, Danny and Rosalie Samuelson, and Bill and Dottie Penn. Each day, she read the newspaper from cover to cover and was always willing to share an opinion about a variety of topics. She especially enjoyed and took pride in her seven grandchildren and her nephew Ralph Lawrence. Doris is survived by her three children, Joanne Riley of Austin, Clyde Jennings of Austin, and A.P. Jennings of San Antonio; by her seven grandchildren, Rich and Russ Riley, Andrew and Leigh Ann Jennings, and Steven, Chris, and Cara Jennings; by her four great grandchildren; and by numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Donna Epperson for her support of Doris in her last years, all the wonderful people of Parmer Woods and Buckner Villas, and Carmen Burkhart and the staff of Hospice Austin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Hospice Austin.