Dr. Doris Yvonne Kelsey

Doris Yvonne Sanders Kelsey, of Clarksville, TN, passed away at Park Meadows Post Acute Care on November 8, 2025. She was born December 23, 1936, in Springfield, TN, to Paul and Evelyn Sadler Sanders who preceded her in death, as well as her husband, Weston M. Kelsey MD and her brother, Paul Sanders DDS.

Doris graduated from Trenton High School, Trenton, KY and then from Austin Peay State University from which she received the Drane Award given to a graduating student based on character, Scholarship, leadership, and service to the university. Subsequently, she graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine followed by a fellowship and post graduate studies at Ohio State University College of Medicine and Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. She was a member of the faculty and staff at Wake Forest for the next 30 years, practicing, teacher, and consulting in the fields of pediatrics and infectious diseases. She authored chapters in medical books and articles in numerous medical journals.

She served as Consultant for Forsyth Memorial Hospital Methodist Children's Home. One young patient there pleaded that she find him allergic to picking green beans as his appointed chore. Remembering her shared hatred for that task growing up on the farm in KY, it was suspected that she had acquiesced.

Doris was a member of the Winston-Salem Dog Training Club for many years. She had a special interest in Lhasa Apsos and always had a Lhasa pet. She taught obedience training at the school and participated in many tournaments at the local district and state levels receiving many coveted awards in obedience performance with a Dalmatian (her guard dog), Shetland Sheep dogs and Lhasas. On retirement, she was made a life member in appreciation of her work at the dog club. She visited nursing homes with one of her Lhasas trained as a therapy dog. Her Shelties were also trained and won many awards in agility competitions.

Doris had a special love for birds, especially hummingbirds and knew the date of their arrival each year. She was also an enthusiastic grower of roses and annual flowers. She enjoyed horseback riding for relaxation on her white horse, Apache.

She and her husband enjoyed country living in Winston-Salem and frequent travel to medical meetings in Europe and Mexico. The week of Christmas was special with celebrations with family and friends on her birthday on the 23rd, their wedding anniversary on the 24th, and Christmas day.

She was a member of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC, and on retirement joined Trenton Baptist Church in Trenton, KY. As long as she felt comfortable driving there, she attended regularly.

Doris is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Nick Caldwell; nieces, Catherine Caldwell, Paula Brotton (Brad), Patty Klimczak (Chet), Priscilla Banks; and nephews, Paul D. Sanders (Debie) and C. Nicholas Caldwell (Alexandra). She is also survived by her 14-year-old Lhasa Apso who she frequently described as the best little dog on earth. Suzy now lives with Nick and Evelyn.

A private graveside service will take place at Edgewood Cemetery in Trenton, KY. Arrangements are entrusted to Neal Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison St., Clarksville, TN 37040.