DORRIS, Douglas Arthur "Doug" - b. July 25 , 1950 - d. January 19, 2022

[patyrn]

Douglas "Doug" Dorris passed away on January 19, 2022.  He was born on July 25, 1950, the second of three children, to Milton Henry and JoAnn (Whitehead) Dorris. He was named for each of his grandfathers and cherished his relationship with them, carrying their names with pride.  Each of his parents had four siblings, and they and their children were always an important part of his life.

As is the case with most great teachers, Doug was an avid learner.  This began when he was a child, learning from his dad and grandparents.  He earned a degree in agriculture in 1972 followed by studies in drafting.  Then he switched gears and attended Ozark Bible College and Wheaton Theological Seminary of Lincoln University where he studied criminology and criminal justice. 

Doug married Anne Louise DeWelt in 1974.  In 1979, Lucinda Marie made them parents, and in 1981, Joella Louise brought even more joy to his family.  They welcomed Helen and Lindsey, foster daughters, into their home.  Many others also made their home with the Dorris family including newly releated inmates.  Eventually, he added to his prison ministry by opening the Sonrise House where former incmates could reaccclimate to life outside of prison.  Doug was always a hard worker, growing up farming and ranching.  Then as a teenager, he learned to shingle roofs for the low-income church members.  Once he met his Lord and Savior, he started preaching.  For his first sermon, he read 1 Corinthians 13 aloud and did not comment, if you can believe that!  Allowing the Lord to guide through His Word, Doug continued to grow as a preacher, teacher, mentor, and leader.

Doug founded the Prison Ministry in Missouri in 1980.  The next twenty years in Jefferson City, Missouri were full of ministry and outreach.  Doug worked not only with the innmates across Missouri but with many families of the incarcerated providing housing as well as operating a food panty.  In 2000, Doug began work with a prison in Winfield, Kansas.  After leaving that position, he transitioned to regular church ministry.  He served in Atlanta, Kansas, DeQueen, Arkansas, Tyler, Texas, Laverne, Oklahoma, Cleo Springs, Oklahoma, and Medford, Oklahoma just to name a few.  Doug's passion for sharing the Word of the Lord never wavered.

Doug is survived by his daughters, Lucinda and Joella; his son-in-law, Jason; his grandson, Aiden; his granddaughters, Serrenity and Iris; his sister, Twyla Bright; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Anne in 2017, and his parents. 

Memorial services for Doug Dorris were held on January 22, 2022 at the Driftwood Christian Church in Cherokee, Oklahoma.  Arrangements were entrusted to Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cheroke,  Oklahoma.

(taken from the Lanman Funeral Home website)
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Doug Dorris and his sister, Twyla, attended elementary school in Howard, Kansas for several years during the 1950s/1960s.