Doris Ann Finke Kennon, 85, of Pottsboro passed away peacefully on September 20, 2022 surrounded by family and friends. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister-in-law, cousin, aunt and beloved member of the community.
Doris, or “Doris Ann” as many would call her, was born on June 21, 1937 to Etta Lawrence Finke and Carl Finke of the Georgetown (Fink) Community.
She grew up on a local farm located in the Fink Community where they raised dairy cows and chickens. She learned to drive a tractor at a very young age and helped her dad out in the field. She was known as the little curly haired Finke girl.
She attended Georgetown School and graduated from Denison High School in 1954. Growing up she loved to sing and play the piano at church. She attended college at Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas.
She and Lawrence Kennon grew up knowing each other and had their first date on Easter Sunday at Georgetown Church in 1954. Georgetown Church’s property was donated by Doris’ parents, Carl and Etta Finke years prior. They were engaged on Christmas and were the first couple to be married at Georgetown Baptist Church on June 10, 1955. They had two daughters, Vicki Lynn in 1957 and Carla Marie in 1962.
They moved to Lubbock, TX in 1958. Doris worked at the Air Force base while Lawrence attended Texas Tech University until he graduated in 1960. After graduation they moved to Mesquite, TX where they attended Oates Drive Baptist Church.
They moved to Dallas, TX in 1968 where she was a bookkeeper for a doctor’s office and later was employed by Sun Oil Company. During this time they attended Spring Valley Baptist Church. She was a very involved and active mom who spent a lot of her time running her two girls to cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, baton and tap lessons. She also loved to sew and now her great-granddaughters get to wear some of her creations.
In 1980, they sold their home in Dallas and built a home in Pottsboro, TX where she resided until her death. Lawrence and Doris commuted to Dallas for work until 1983. Doris later was employed by Sexton tax service as a bookkeeper, while Lawrence became a full-time rancher on the Old Finke Farm (homeplace) in Fink, Texas.
Doris and Lawrence were active members of Georgetown Baptist Church and loved their church family. She volunteered, taught Sunday school and Bible study for many years.
In their free time, they traveled in their camper all over the United States. One of their favorite trips was to Alaska with many of their friends. They both loved to square dance and two-step.
In the early 2000’s they built a cabin in Colorado where they spent summers and helped start and build a church in their community of Bear Creek.
2015-2016 were rough years as Doris had a life-threatening blood infection and Lawrence was diagnosed and treated for prostate and bladder cancer. As she fought for her life in a coma, Lawrence was doing the same by going through cancer treatments. They ended up being roommates at Homestead in Sherman and both were able to return home in April 2016.
Throughout her life, Doris was always strong in her faith. In the last several years, she kept a remarkably positive attitude considering her struggles. She was always reminded by her husband’s words, “Remember, when you think you want to give up – Don’t! Put your faith in the Lord and you will be amazed at what you are actually capable of.”
Even though both Doris and Lawrence were not physically able to attend church in person in more recent years, they watched online every week. After Lawrence’s death, Doris was able to attend the 75th Anniversary of Georgetown Baptist Church. She was honored to be a part of the celebration.
One of the great joys of her last several years was getting to see her great-grandchildren grow and getting to witness many of their first milestones. She was able to be an integral part of their lives and gave them many fond memories with their great-Gammie to cherish for a lifetime.
Doris loved her family, church and community. We remember her in love, whether she was helping her husband with the farm, camping and traveling with friends, enjoying the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, balancing her bookkeeping work and family, loving on her grandchildren or serving her church. She was one of the sweetest and most faithful women you could ever meet.
Deep gratitude is extended to all their family, friends and church family that have supported Lawrence and Doris through their journey.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Victor Kennon, and her parents, Carl and Etta Lawrence Finke (Pace). She is survived by her two daughters, Vicki Jones and her husband Dennis Jones and Carla Kent and her late husband, JJ Kent; her three grandchildren, Victoria Jones and her husband Ryan Nayes, Stephen Jones and his fiance Dakoda McDoniel and Brandon Kent; her great-granddaughters Willowlyn Nayes, Evie Nayes and Emery McDoniel; her sister-in-law Billie Kennon, the Pace family – who were very dear to her heart, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Family night will be held at Johnson-Moore Chapel in Pottsboro, TX on Friday, September 30 from 5-7pm. Funeral services will be held at Georgetown Baptist Church in Pottsboro, TX on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 10:30am with burial immediately following at Georgetown Cemetery
Pastor Jake Edwards, Roy Duff, Larry Clonts, and Scott Galyon will be officiating.
Pallbearers are Brandon Kent, Stephen Jones, Dennis Jones, Jim Lyons, Ray Sliva and Bart Lawrence. Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Nayes, Jerry Armstrong and Chad Oakley.
Music will be provided by Gary Miller, Kim Winters and Duke Rhynes
The family is accepting plants and flowers, or donations can also be sent to Georgetown Baptist Church in her name.
