Doris R. Martinson

1939 - 2021

Doris R. Martinson

Knoxville - Doris R. Martinson was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on June 27, 1939 to Howard and Hazel Rivers and passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.

She graduated in 1957 from Chattanooga High School. She attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1957 to 1961 and earned her Bachelors in Art. She also married Dr. Fred Martinson in 1961. They relocated to Chicago where she earned her MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1964.

From 1965-67, she, Fred and her first son Matthew moved to Kyoto, Japan.

In 1968, her son Chris was born in Chicago.

The family ultimately moved back to Knoxville, TN where she had her third son Eric in 1971.

In the mid 80s, Doris went to work for the Knox County Archives. She served as the manager of the Knox County Archives for many years there until her retirement in 2020. During this time, she became a Certified Archivist and earned her Masters in Information Science from the University of Tennessee.

Doris was a member of Church Street United Methodist Church. She was an avid bridge player and loved to spend time with her family, friends and two cats. She enjoyed living abroad in Asia, travelling most of Europe and visiting holy sites in Israel. She also liked to go on cruises with her relatives.

She is preceded in death by her parents Howard and Hazel Rivers and her son Matthew Martinson. She is survived by her son Chris of Knoxville, TN and her son and daughter-in-law Eric and Amber Martinson of Indianapolis, IN. Additional survivors are her cousins David Turbeville and Marcus and Rosemary Little of Gatlinburg, TN.

There will be a visitation Tuesday from 2 - 6 pm at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home, 2300 Adair Dr., Knoxville, TN. Family and friends will meet at Greenwood Cemetery Wednesday at 2:45 pm for the 3 pm graveside service. Condolences may be offered at www.berrylynnhurst.com