Doris Marie Karr DeBlois Baxter, 95, of Seffner, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, April 22, 2019. She was born on August 11, 1923, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the daughter of Louis and Mildred (Everingham) Karr. The family later moved to Conshohocken, PA, where she graduated from Conshohocken High School. Doris enlisted in the United States Navy on June 14, 1945, “to see the world” and was awarded the WWII Victory ribbon.
Doris met George DeBlois while in the Navy and they were married on May 25, 1946. They later moved to Tampa, Florida. Doris was a stay-at-home mother until 1963 when George and four other businessmen mysteriously disappeared while flying in a private plane to Tallahassee during a thunderstorm. She drew on her clerical and stenographic training from the Navy to provide for her family and worked for Davis Real Estate, Fidelity & Deposit Co., Poe and Associates, and Brown and Brown Insurance, before retiring in 2007.
She was a member of Alpha Zeta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, was active in Bachelors and Belles, liked to read, worked on crossword and jigsaw puzzles, enjoyed square dancing, Tai-Chi, and water aerobics, played golf and bowling, traveled with family and friends, and volunteered at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts and ECHO in Brandon. She married James M. Baxter in 1975. They were later divorced.
Doris is survived by her brother, William T. Karr, Oxnard, CA; her three children: Dawne (Bob) Skinner, Rochester, MN; Diane Worsham, Seffner, FL; and David DeBlois, Melbourne, FL; three grandsons: Jeff Lucas (Danielle), Summerville, SC; Brian Lucas (Vanessa), Fruitland, UT, and Michael Worsham (Angela), Rapid City, SD; six great-grandchildren: Kyle Lucas, Schertz, TX; Jordan and Logan Lucas, Fruitland, UT; Kaden and Kaylee Worsham, Rapid City, SD; and Cloi Ray, Summerville, SC; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George DeBlois; brother, Robert S. Karr; son-in-law, Mike Worsham; and great-grandson, Kaleb Worsham.
When asked what she wanted people to remember her by, she stated: “She tried her best but didn’t always succeed.” Anyone who knew her would say she definitely succeeded. We will miss you, Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma.
A military memorial service and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 2:00 pm at Stowers Funeral Home, 401 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511. Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in her name to the charity of your choice.
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