Doris Ruth Simmons

Doris was born in Derden, Texas, her parents were Carroll and Myrl Hancock, and they had six children, C.D., Billy, Herbert, Mary, Doris, and Larry.

Doris grew up in this area for most of her life. She attended school in Blum and graduated from High School in 1947. She met the true love of her life, Grady Lamar Simmons of Blanton, Texas. He was known best as Preacher, which later, Doris called him ‘Preach’. Doris and Preacher married on October 10, 1947. He gave her the nickname of ‘Dumpling’, it soon became shortened to Dump. The nieces and nephews called her ‘Aunt Dump’ and the name stuck. They moved to Royse City for a short while and returned back to Derden.

A couple of years later they started their family, Dickie Lamar, born on August 16, 1949, and Kathy Ann on June 9, 1953. A few years later… Gregory Keith on September 9, 1957, and Timothy Dale born on August 18, 1963, making the family complete.

While Dickie and Kathy were young, the family moved to Sweetwater, Texas where Preach worked for the railroad…but not for long, they returned at Derden surrounded by family and every holiday was filled with fun and love.

Doris, Mary, Maw Maw, Bertha Lee and Ora Nell would all get together and make quilts. There were always crops to harvest, cows to milk and farm animals to feed. Family encouraged each other, shared in the workload and worshiped together on Sunday at Rio Vista Church of Christ. So many memories! Paw Paw was a song leader and Elder. Grady and Herbert were Deacons. Doris, an active Bible class teacher and Vacation Bible School volunteer for over 50 years showed us strong Christian examples.

Doris helped on every occasion…school events, concession stand, and in the Blum School Cafeteria. Doris was an expert seamstress and made many of our clothes. Doris and Kathy would go to Cleburne every Saturday to buy groceries for the week. This grocery list included 10 loaves of bread. She cooked breakfast every day, lunches and a hot meal was on the table every night. Our family was always around the table eating together.

In the 1980’s, Preach and Dump sold the farm and moved to Cleburne. Preach and Doris loved to camp in their travel trailer. They spent many of their retirement years camping with their friends in Ruidoso, New Mexico to escape the Texas heat. They attended church at Westhill Church of Christ and worshiped there for years. Later in life, health issues arrived, and they moved to Santa Fe Trails Assisted Living. Preach passed away on January 26, 2013. Doris dearly missed the love of her life but remained strong. After a few falls, she decided Mustang Creek in Burleson was a better locatio0n for her. Four years later, Doris moved to Morada Burleson, where she lived until her passing on July 13, 2025.

Doris was kind, considerate, sweet to everyone she met, and faithful in her love and belief. She was strong and we will be forever grateful for the example that she set for generations to come. She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband, Grady Lamar Simmons,  son, Keith Simmons; and five siblings.

Survivors include her children, Dick and Olivia Simmons of Orlando, Florida, Kathy and Don Davis of Crowley, Cheryl Simmons of Burleson, Tim and Sandra Simmons of Gurley, Alabama; grandchildren, Alicia and Scott Lynch, Ryan Davis, Brett and Tina Simmons, Wade and Molly Simmons, Kyle and Ashlee Simmons, Kelsey and Miles Stuckey, Chadd and Stacy Springer and Gabe and Staci Moore; great grandchildren, Madison Lynch, Macie Lynch, Lincoln Moore, Lawson Moore, Jillian Moore, Meghan Springer, Jake Springer, Ethan Davis, River Davis, Larisa Simmons and Eric Simmons. Doris had six nieces; eight nephews and Aunt Dump loved them all. May the memories be cherished.

Her Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Sunday, September 28, 2025 in Derden Cemetery located in Hill County, Texas.