Obituary of Doris Payton Smith

Life’s Reflections Mrs. Doris Payton Smith “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 DORIS PAYTON SMITH departed this life peacefully on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at her home in Bonner Springs, Kansas, surrounded by loved ones, gospel music, and scriptures. Doris was born August 23, 1921 to proud parents Essul Payton and Molly Young Payton. She was preceded in death by both of her parents and ten of her siblings. Doris accepted Christ into her life at an early age at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Mer Rouge, Louisiana. Doris met and married the love of her life, Ellis Smith Jr. in 1940. God granted to their union six children who she loved and cherished. Doris and Ellis became active members of Eudora Missionary Baptist Church where she faithfully served as President of the Mother’s Board, Missionary Department, and Culinary Coordinator. After raising six children, Doris took a job as the Cafeteria/Food Services Manager at Union High School for the Morehouse Parish School District. Union High School honored Doris with the “Outstanding Food Service Manager Award” for 25 years of dedicated service on July 4, 2015. For more than a decade, Doris lived in Bonner Springs, Kansas with her daughter, Donna and son-in-law, Henry Hardy. While residing in Bonner Springs, Doris became a proud member of the Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church. As a member, she was always eloquently adorned with a warm greeting and her stylish church hats which made everyone smile. She was a Godly woman full of grace and virtue. Doris was a role model, mentor, counselor, and friend to many. She enjoyed family vacations and spending time traveling to Martha’s Vineyard, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Hilton Head, cruising the Caribbean, Washington D.C., where she visited the White House and many more. Doris also enjoyed spending quality time with family members in Vallejo, San Diego, and Los Angeles where she kept an active social calendar filled with weekly dinners, Friday outings, and weekend baseball games. She was a loving, kind-hearted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother as she always held her family in high esteem and devotion. During her recent years she always displayed a sense of quiet strength and peaceful tranquility. Even as the Lord called her to be a part of his flower garden, she peacefully slept into God’s presence. Doris leaves to cherish her memory three siblings: Mollie Ann Brown, Minnie Payton, and George Payton. Six children: Billie Ruth Only, Vallejo, CA.; Mary McGee, Los Angeles, CA.; Donna Hardy (Henry), Bonner Springs, Ks.; Ellis Crosby (Ollie), Los Angeles, CA.; H. Lee, San Diego, CA.; and Quenion Earl, Los Angeles, CA. Fifteen grandchildren: Sherri (Tony), Doris (Tony), BJ (Toni), Zachary (Delanda), Derrick, LaDeamya, Kerry, Todd, Terryl, Lauren, Niele, Jennifer, Cynthia (Che), Chandra (Patrick), Juan (Lanore). Fifteen great grandchildren: Nicole, Anthony, John, Destiny, Britteny, Du’Mauriea, Jaelynn, Che’ II, Chandler, Brittany, Kendra, Kayla, Juan Jr., Paige, and Payton and one great-great grandchild Noah Benjamin. Doris Payton Smith loved the Lord. We will miss her warm smile, words of wisdom, good food, and the lessons she taught us all. She was a virtuous woman indeed. Services for Doris P. Smith will be held Friday, December 18, 2015. Visitation will be from 9-11am with the services starting at 11am at Golden’s Funeral Home, 2018 E. Madison Ave, Bastrop, Louisiana 71220. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to: The Oak Ridge Youth Development School In Memoriam of Doris P. Smith 9301 Parallel Parkway Kansas City, Ks 66112 913-788-5657 www.Orydschool.org