She was born on April 30th, 1946, in Kansas City Missouri where her mother Bernice and Carl Swanson raised her until their move to Leawood where she spent most of her youth.
She graduated from Shawnee Mission East in 1964 and went on to attend community college in Kansas City, Missouri where she studied business administration. She then worked in the auditor revenue office for Kansas City Southern Railroad for 40 years, where she retired in 2006. She was actively involved in her family church, First Covenant, including singing in the choir at a young age. This is where she met her husband John Stephen Marrs, and they were married on July 21, 1967.
Steve and Doris began their married life in Overland Park and later moved to Prairie Village, but eventually built homes in Olathe, where they lived for over 30 years and where they made many friends. Their love story lasted for 58 years.
Doris was known for her love of holidays and seasonal decorating including maintaining lots of beautiful flowers. Her life was centered around her family. While her children were young, she would spend hours in the car driving them around listening to 80’s music like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and even Motley Crue, if that was the music that was popular with the young teens at that time. She also loved spending time with her grandkids, Lane and Carlie, planning easter egg hunts, attending their sporting events, shopping for clothes and spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks with them and her Uncle Gene. She led a blessed life with her family and beloved dogs.
Near the end, Doris struggled with leukemia, which she had bested once earlier in her life. The family would like to thank all the nurses and caregivers for the compassion they showed her in her final days.
She was preceded in death by Carl Swanson, Bernice Gustafson Swanson, Gene Gustafson, and her granddaughter Ashley Lane Marrs. She is survived by her husband John Stephen Marrs, son Jeff Marrs, daughter Krista Marrs, daughter-in-law Jan Marrs, and granddaughter Carlie Marrs.
Visitation with the family will be on Friday, September 26th, from 5-7pm at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral home located at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.
A celebration of life will be held at Church of The Resurrection in the Wesley Chapel on Saturday the 27th at 10:00 am. The address is 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66224.
There will be a brief graveside service at Floral Hills Cemetery. Family and Friends will then gather for a meal and treasured memories afterwards at the Marrs home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her honor to Wayside Waifs https://waysidewaifs.org/donate/
