Doris L. Guerra

Doris Leona Kemper Guerra, died on January 8th, 2024, in a family embrace. Doris was born on May the 29th, 1939, in Lyons, Kansas. The family then moved to El Dorado Springs, Missouri, where she spent her childhood on the family farm, and graduated from High School. She volunteered for the USO and was crowned Miss Christmas. Her yearbook indicated that she was awarded one of the Friendliest People.

As a young adult, Doris left for a job with Sears in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and stayed with the company as she moved to Kansas City, Missouri in her mid-twenties to care for her sister Deloris who was having treatment at the KU Med Center. There, she lived with her roommates, including her cherished friend Phyllis (the Phiz). In her mid-twenties she met Ruben, at the Heart Bowling Alley, and their epic romance began. Doris was married to Ruben J. Guerra in Missouri on December 28, 1963. Ruben and Doris’ unlikely love story was a joy to everyone who knew them; lovers, best friends, traveling duo, and comedy team (married over 59 years).

Family to many, Tia Doris to Ruben’s family. Doris was not one for overly expressive feelings. She was a fighter, winning her battle against cancer multiple times in the decades of her adult life. With hugs that spoke louder than words and dry witty (spicy comments) “Grammy” delighted friends, far and wide. She was a keen observer of human behavior, Doris frequently enjoyed “people watching”, first with her son and then with her granddaughters. You could also count on Grammy to get an inside joke.

Doris was an active member of Fairmount Christian Church for many years and Raymore Christian Church near Foxwood Springs, later in life, where she lived out her final days (under the care of a cherished nursing community) and her belovedfamily, Jay, Angel, and sister Shirley.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents Millie and Harold Kemper, sister Deloris, brother William (Bill) Kemper, husband Ruben Guerra. Close friends and family left behind deeply grieve the loss of Doris: including her sister Shirley Kemper Althoff (whom Doris partly raised) and husband Roman Althoff, Doris and Ruben’s only child Jay Ruben Guerra, and their beloved daughter-in-law, Angel.

Many called her “Grammy” in the final decades of her life, including her three granddaughters and their spouses, Shea Leah and Seth LeJeune, Moree’ and Evan EuDaly, and Julia Guerra and Sean Micheal (and all of their friends!). Grammy left behind eight great grandchildren: Adam, Elijah Lewis, Sammy, Maevi, Anika, Peter, Jay and Farrah.

“Don’t wear black! Wear Color! And have a great big party, with music!” - Grammy Requested for her remembrance. We are brokenhearted to say goodbye, yet we weep with relief that she is now home with her Maker and with Ruben, the ‘love of her life’.

Thank-you all for celebrating this dynamic woman with your outpouring of support for our family in this, our time of sorrow.

Doris’ farewell party will be held on Sunday, January the 21st, 2024 at 3pm, at Raymore Christian Church. 500 Peace Drive, Raymore, Mo.

If sending flowers, please schedule them to be delivered to the church the day of the service at 2:00pm