Doris was born on May 4, 1942, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Charles Benjamin Gatewood and Cora Ann (Gaines) Gatewood. She passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the age of 84, leaving behind a lifetime of cherished memories and a family who will forever hold her close to their hearts.
Doris was a woman who knew the value of hard work and took pride in everything she did. Throughout her life, she worked as a manager at a furniture outlet factory and as the owner and manager of Sooner Service Senter. She had a natural appreciation for making things beautiful, whether she was decorating, tending to her garden, or simply making the spaces around her feel a little more like home.
But there was much more to Doris than her working years. She found happiness in life's familiar pleasures. She loved gospel singing, spending time reading her Bible, and settling in to watch a good western. She enjoyed gardening, decorating, and whenever someone called to ask what she was up to, her answer was often, "Oh, just chasing Percy." These were the little things that made up the life she loved, and the things that will surely bring a smile to the faces of those remembering her. Above all else, Doris loved her family. Her grandchildren held a special place in her heart, and nothing could quite compare to the joy they brought into her life.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Cora Gatewood; her husband, Percy; her son, David Edmondson; her eight brothers, Cecil, John, Tom, Jerry Wayne, Gene, Jessie, Leroy, and Bill Gatewood; and her sister, Florence Shepherd.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, James Smith and wife Regina; her daughter, Lorie Ann Taylor; and her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Edmondson. She also leaves behind her seven grandchildren, Shandale Herndon and wife Linda, Chris Herndon and wife Crystal, Dereck Herndon and wife Kim, Kyle Wayne Moore and wife Dani, Kayla Carlton and husband Colton, Johnna Edmondson, and DJ Edmondson; sixteen great-grandchildren; along with many other family members and friends who will miss her dearly.
As her family gathers to celebrate her life, they will remember Doris not simply for the years she lived, but for the countless moments that filled those years. The sound of gospel music, a favorite western playing, a garden lovingly tended, and the joy of having family close will all serve as reminders of a life well lived and deeply loved.
