Doris Ann Burkhart Bledsoe

DORIS ANN BURKHART BLEDSOE was born on December 13, 1942, to Denzil and Laurah Burkhart. Doris attended South Park schools and graduated in 1961. While in school she enjoyed the choirs she was a member of as well as being in the 1961 Homecoming Court, Tri-Hi-Y, and the Council To Sponsor Exchange Students. After high school Doris attended Lamar State College of Technology majoring in those business courses related to Business Office Management. During her high school years, Doris became the responsible person for maintaining payroll and accounts for her father’s paint contracting business while her mother handled bidding operations. After her college days, the law firm of Vollers and Magrath hired Doris as a legal secretary and she remained with that firm until they moved their law practice to Austin Texas. At that time Doris accepted a position as a Jefferson County Deputy District Clerk and remained in that office until she and her husband “Zane” started their family. She enjoyed the legal work and oversaw implementing the Microfilming operation for the District Clerk’s office.

Doris became Mrs. Zane Bledsoe on August 20, 1965. They met in high school in a math class. They dated for five years and married during Zane’s last semester at Lamar. Their marriage would cover 56 years. On July 8, 1970, Byron, their first son was born. On August 18, 1973, their second son Chad was born and on June 5, 1976, Davon, was born. Having three boys led to years of camping trips with family friends, Charles and Martha Jo Starcke, hitting most of the mountain ranges in America and making many fishing trips to Missouri for trout fishing in mountain streams. Those were special times and one Doris enjoyed planning for and handling with 3 boys. Their favorite spot came to be Branson, Mo, with the shows, restaurants, and many other attractions. When Davon was in the third grade, Mr. George Sharp, Principal of Marshall Middle school contacted Doris weekly for four weeks wanting her to become his secretary. She declined each time due to having three small boys. On the fourth call Doris’s mother happened to be visiting and heard the conversation. She insisted Doris take the job because she wanted to have the boys at her place until Doris could pick them up each afternoon. Doris called Mr. Sharp and started a 20-year run as the principal’s secretary at Marshall Middle School. During that time Doris worked for seven different principals at Marshall. In her time at Marshall, she enjoyed many close relationships with the student office aids. Frequently, student aids would bring her Christmas gifts and parents would stop by and visit. At times Doris was a type of counselor for some faculty members needing someone to talk with regarding issues they were facing on or off campus.

Doris accepted Christ at age 12 and was baptized at First Baptist church in Beaumont. Throughout her life her faith was most important to her. She and Zane came into marriage knowing how deeply family mattered having both lost family members in their early years; Doris’s sister Mae Bell, and Zane’s mom and little sister Alta Gail. They clearly understood that when they stood before God and man and said “I do”, their heavenly father then considered them to be one flesh as described in the book of Genesis. They considered their pledge to each other and God a sacred oath for which one day they would give an account. Often, they talked of the blessings they enjoyed and understood their need to be faithful to their Savior who made their spiritual and material blessings possible. Of all the blessings afforded Christ followers all will come to realize, is the promise that believers never die. They simply lay down their fleshly tent in which they spiritually lived to join their heavenly family. Frequently, when Doris and Zane parted for work or to run an errand it was never “good by”. Either one might say, “Love you, see you later” and the other would respond, “Love you”. And so, it now is, “Love you, see you later” and “love you.”

Doris is survived by her husband Zane, her sons Byron and wife Angela, Chad, Davon and wife Kimberly, grand children Kayleigh and husband Barry Oser, Ashley and husband Stephen Heffren, Colby, and his wife Kasie, Colin and his wife Taylor, Brooke, Nate, Ethan, Ryan, and Riley Bledsoe. Great grandchildren Truett, Everett, Wyatt, Charleigh Oser and Canton and Kate Bledsoe.

A special “Thank you” to staff members Chaplin Kenny Molanders, aides Brandy Guidry, Ginger Kennison, and Nurses Angie Gau, Charlotte Roundtree, Kailey White, and Sandy Corley of Texas Total Care. The individualized touch and care provided by these members of Texas Total Care was a tremendous help to our family and much gratitude to Visiting Angels for attending to Doris’s needs when needed. For the prayers of so many friends, family, and churches there are no words that can express our deep gratitude to each through these years of dementia. Your prayers and the strength they afforded us has made even clearer the bond forged by the blood of Jesus in the heavenly family he brought into being. A family Doris now cherishes even more as do I her husband and soul mate.