Doris Randow Bouligny Killam

Doris Randow Bouligny Killam

San Angelo

Doris Randow Bouligny Killam was born to Henry C. and Augusta B. Randow in the living room of their home in Halletsville, Texas, on Nov. 3, 1927.

She graduated from Halletsville High School in May 1945, where she had been a charter member of the high school band.

Attending Texas Lutheran College, 1945-1947, she sang in the TLC Choir which traveled and performed in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mexico. After junior college she taught in Breslau, a county school in Lavaca County, Texas. She attended Southwest State Teachers College and graduated with a BS in August 1950. She became the first speech therapist in the San Marcos public school system.

Doris married J.E. Bouligny on March 31, 1951. They moved to Victoria, Texas, in September 1952, where she was hired to teach homebound children, and conducted a survey to find enough handicapped children to begin the first special education class in Victoria. They moved to Katy, Texas, in September 1953, where she taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts for two years before resigning to have her two children, Carol Jean in December 1955 and Robert Greg in October 1957. She tutored two boys with special needs before initiating the first special education class in Katy.

The family moved to San Angelo in 1962. She was hired to teach deaf and hearing impaired students at Hellen Keller School until Special Education was integrated into the regular schools. She then taught hearing impaired children at Santa Rita, John Glenn, and Central. While she was teaching at Santa Rita she was initiated into the Alpha Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She sincerely loved the association with 'key teachers' and enjoyed the meetings and conventions. During these years she had commuted to the University of Houston each summer until she completed her master's degree.

She married David Killam in January 1971. Doris and David enjoyed bowling and later bought six acres on Dove Creek. After retirement they worked long hours clearing, fencing and improving a dream spot. They decided to reside at Rio Concho West and where the original members of the Rio Concho West Junkyard Band. They thoroughly enjoyed raising the spirits of the audiences they played for. Because of her love of children's developing reading and language skills she gave her grandchildren appropriate books for birthdays and Christmas from birth until high school graduation.

During all the uncertain and difficult periods of her life Doris leaned heavily on her faith and inspiration from the scriptures. She felt like her life had been like that of the Israelites being led through the wilderness. They finally reached the Promised Land and Doris finally reached hers when she passed away on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; spouses J.E. and David; and children Carol Fisher and Bob Killam.

Survivors include her children, Kay Longest, Don and Barbara Killam, Carol and Allan Williams, and Greg and Stevie Bouligny; and 67 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation and a meal will be provided at noon on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, at Johnson's Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will follow at 1 p.m. in the chapel with burial following in Eola Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Meals on Wheels, Brook Hollow Assisted Living in San Antonio, or a charity of your choice.

Family and friends may sign the online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com.