Doris E. (closeup) EDWARDS

1929-2016

Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley

*Obituary
Doris Edwards
August 14, 1929 - November 6, 2016

Doris Wheat was born in County Line, Oklahoma, on August 14, 1929. She passed on November 6, 2016, at the Windsor Nursing Home in Austin, Texas, at the age of 87 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was the firstborn of Reba Josephine Ray and Cloyce Raymond Wheat. A year and a half later, Doris’s only sibling, Bobby Jo Wheat, was born. When Doris was five, their father was killed at the age of 29 on an oil rig during a tornado in the East Texas oil fields. Doris always remembered the song that was sung at her Daddy’s funeral: “God Will Take Care of You.” At 87 years of age, Doris was still able to sing every word of that old hymn (and MANY other songs!). Doris graduated from Sundown High School in Sundown, Texas. She was blessed that her mother and step-father saved enough money for her to attend college. She went to Texas Tech where she obtained her “Mrs.” degree. She met and fell in love with World War II Navy veteran, C.C. "Buddy" Fraley, who was in her geology class. They were married on December 20, 1946. Buddy was quite a dancer, and after coaching Doris on her dancing skills, they even won a few local Big Band amateur dancing contests. From then on, she had a life-long love for music and dancing. After Buddy graduated from Texas Tech, the couple moved to Borger, Texas, where Buddy was a successful geologist in the family oil business. Doris was a stay-at-home mom, cooking, cleaning, and shuttling all four kids to their piano lessons, dance lessons, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, choir practices/concerts, basketball games and volunteer duties. The family attended First Baptist Church in Borger. Doris went back to college in her 40's, this time getting an associate degree in Medical Records from Amarillo College. As she was finishing her degree, Buddy suddenly died of heart disease, in June 1973. However, God took care of her, as He promised, by providing her with the perfect job at the perfect time at Golden Plains Hospital upon graduation in May. She worked more than 10 years at the hospital. After that, she worked for several years at Citizens Security Savings & Loan in Borger in customer service. Eventually, Doris became involved in the singles Sunday school class at her church. She and some new friends went on several trips together during this time – to Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado – and she became known as “the lady with her traveling shoes on!” She was always ready for the next adventure. In 1978, Doris met Leo Edwards, a widower who was also in the singles class. They fell in love at a retreat in Glorieta, NM. A mutual friend of theirs told Leo that if he was going to marry Doris, he better put his own “traveling shoes” on. They married in December 1978, and enjoyed 22 years of marriage and lots of traveling together. In the later stage of her life, Doris developed Alzheimer’s disease. After Leo passed away in 2001, Doris’s Alzheimer’s worsened, but she was able to stay in her home for several more years with the help of Kam Harvick, a dear caregiver and friend. Doris moved to the Hudson House Assisted Living home in Claude, Texas, in June of 2010, where she spent two and a half years. In 2012, she moved to Windsor Nursing Home in Austin, Texas, which allowed her to be closer to two of her four children, and she lived there until her death. Wherever Doris went, she made people smile with her quick wit and playful sense of humor, warm exuberance and frequent compliments. Instead of complaining, she saw the best in people and spontaneously radiated love and joy, endearing herself to all those around her. She was “color blind” in an era when many were not. She loved all people! What a legacy for her kids and grandkids. She also left a spiritual legacy, making sure her children knew about God’s love. This legacy has trickled down to her great-grandchildren. All who knew Doris were blessed! She will be sorely missed in this world, but we are comforted knowing that she is kicking up her heels in Heaven.

Doris is preceded in death by: Husband, Leo Edwards, Husband, C. C. “Buddy” Fraley; Brother - Bobby Wheat; Parents – Cloyce Wheat, Reba Ray Wheat Grisham; Step father – Reginald Grisham

Doris is survived by: Children – Lana Fraley Rich of Plano, TX; Randy Fraley and wife Jan of Highlands Ranch, CO; Nancy Fraley Fowler of Austin, TX; Donna Fraley Milner and husband Mike of Borger, TX. Stepchildren – Gary and Brenda Edwards of Canyon, TX; Ann and Doug McDonald of Littlefield, TX, 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, two brothers-in-law – Virgil Fraley of Arlington, TX, and Jack Fraley of Williamsburg, VA.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 19th at 2:00 P.M. at Brown’s Chapel of the Fountains. Burial to follow at Westlawn Cemetery. Family visitation will be Friday, November 18th from 6:00 – 8:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Hudson House, P.O. Box 190, Claude, TX 79019, Attn: Jill Benson, Administrator, or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

(Published by Brown Funeral Directors, Monday, November 7, 2016)
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Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965
Name: Cecil C Fraley
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 20 Dec 1947
Marriage Place: Lubbock, Texas, United States
Spouse: Doris Wheat
FHL Film Number: 2032231

Contributed on 1/22/21 by neldapat
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Record #: 380926

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