Doris Leanora Bazar

Doris Leanora (Hines) Bazar passed peacefully from this world on May 4, 2018, in Modesto, California, following a short illness. Born on March 15, 1924, in rural Coffee County, Alabama to Euna Mae (Dubose) Hines and Sydney Buel Hines, she lived a full life for 94 years. Doris spent the greatest part of her childhood on a small farm in Graceville, Florida. She loved to tell stories about her adventures growing up in the rural South with her older sister Geraldine and her two brothers, Bunk and French as well as innumerable aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. After graduation from high school in 1942, she attempted office work with hilariously dismal success. With the onset of World War II, Doris decided she wanted to make a difference and determined to enroll in Nursing School at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. Again, her stories of her nursing school experiences and New Orleans during the war years were favorites of her children and grandchildren.

Following the end of WWII, Doris and her beloved roommate Monie Hagan, set off for another adventure, traveling west to see the Pacific Ocean and to work as RNs at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. While at Highland, a young resident doctor, Paul Bazar, caught her eye and so began the biggest adventure of her life. Following the completion of his internship, Paul and Doris were married on September 5, 1948 in Graceville, moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan to start married life while Paul completed his medical training. Over the next decade, five children would be born and raised with overwhelming love and attention. A permanent home was established in Fresno, California in 1955.

A devoted mother, Doris prided herself that she and Paul raised their children to be caring, kind, educated, and productive individuals. These characteristics also were instilled in her beloved grandchildren. Doris was a dedicated life-long learner. There were few books she had not read or subjects she could not intelligently converse on. She loved to stay informed about politics and current events, reading several newspapers on a daily basis. A lively debate/discussion about these topics gave her great enjoyment. She thoroughly enjoyed a cut-throat game of dominos or scrabble, pulling no punches and relishing her many victories. She was a great example of her generation: strong in spirit, stoic, resourceful and resilient.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Paul, her parents and her siblings. She leaves behind two sons: Tim (Carrie) Bazar of Newman, California, and David Bazar of Fresno; and three daughters: Sarah (Vern) Haddox of Redding, California, Patricia Bazar of Santa Cruz, California, and Janice (Tom) Babb of Dixon, California. Additionally, she will be dearly missed by her 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the Bazar family. Private services will be held on June 30, 2018, with internment at the Clovis Cemetery. Donations may be made in Doris’s memory to Poverello House, Fresno.