1931
Doris
2011
Doris F. Startz
September 7, 1931 — June 28, 2011
Early morning on June 28, 2011, our beloved mother, Doris Frances Waller Startz (also known as Sue by many), was called home to Jesus. This is the story of her life and the wonderful legacy she has left behind.
Born to Christopher and Ola Waller on September 7, 1931, in the little community of Draw, Texas, Doris was one of eight children. Times were hard back in those depression days, but Doris grew up knowing what she wanted in her life. Graduating from Ben Bolt High School in 1948, it was in that high school that Doris met her sweetheart and love of her life, George William Startz. Married in 1950, William was a farmer and Doris was a farmer’s wife, in the true sense of the word. In the 54 years they had together, their union produced four wonderful children…Helen, Leroy, James and Ellen. Doris and the children worked right along with William in the fields. She fed the chickens and picked the gardens that William grew. With so many fresh vegetables around, Doris soon learned how to can those garden goodies, so that nothing went to waste. She cooked every meal and took William’s lunch and supper out to the field when planting or harvest time rolled around. Doris was quite the good cook and she baked the best sourdough rolls in the county of Victoria. She always kept a starter ready and waiting. As a farmer’s wife, Doris never could really enjoy a thunderstorm because the rain was either too much or not enough to help those growing crops. Having survived four floods in the old farm house the family lived in, Doris rolled up her sleeves and did what had to be done every day of her life. She and William lived a simple country life, and they raised their children knowing what hard work was. Over the many years, in addition to being a farmer’s wife and a mother, Doris worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone, owned and ran Trucker’s Diner, and in her later years, retired from Alice Hospital after 14 years of employment as Assistant Dietary Supervisor. Doris loved to read romance novels, challenged her brain doing word search puzzles, and kept up with her daily favorite soap operas. Quilting became a hobby for Doris later in her life, and she made quilts for anyone who needed one, and obviously a whole bunch of people needed them because over the years, she made dozens. Piecing together fabric and making something beautiful out of those material scraps was a joy to her, and she stitched each piece by hand and with a whole lot of love.
But the real story of Doris Frances Waller Startz is how much she loved her family. She was the proud Grandma of seven beautiful grandchildren, who brought laughter and great joy into her life. Even in her last days, she made sure her four children knew that family is all we really have when it is all said and done, and she made us promise to stay together and love each other. Her children were blessed to be able to have their mother at home at the end of her life on Earth. We know that God welcomed our mother with open arms, as she was a good and faithful servant, and she deserves the riches God has promised us all. It gives us great peace to know that our mom and dad are together again, and as Christians, we have faith we will see them again. Doris is now home with her sweet William.
Preceding Doris in death are her parents, Christopher and Ola Waller, husband George William Startz, and her five brothers and one sister. Surviving Doris is her one remaining brother, Lee Waller, and her four children—Helen Sue Flowers (Ross), William Leroy Startz (Denise), James Ray Startz (Elizabeth) and Ellen Marie Huber (Richard).
Doris was also survived by her seven grandchildren—Ryan Elizabeth Yanes (Isaac), Caleb James Gray Startz, Justin Ross Flowers, Megan Nichole Flowers, Sarah Michelle Startz, Victor David Huber, and Joseph Ehren Huber.
Visitation for Doris will be held at Homegreen Funeral Home in Alice, Texas. Visitation will begin on Thursday, June 30, from 1-8 p.m., with the family receiving visitors from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday morning, July 1st at Homegreen Funeral Home. Services will begin at 10:00 a.m. with burial at Alice Cemetery immediately following the services. A luncheon will follow at the First Baptist Church of Alice, Texas, located on 501 East 2nd Street.
Pallbearers will be Lee Waller, Jr., Darrel Startz, Victor Huber, Isaac Yanes, Chris Waller, and Noel Waller.
Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Justin Flowers, Caleb Startz, and Joseph Huber.
The family would like to thank Retama Manor in Harlingen for all of the gentle care that was given to our mother in the past few weeks. We would also like to thank Dr. Sanusi and Odyssey Hospice, as their kind help and medical knowledge made our mother’s final days peaceful.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Parkinson’s Foundation at www.2.parkinsons.org or at National Parkinson’s Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.
We will miss our mother and our grandma, but what joy we will have when we meet again. We are pretty sure that our mama is already strapping on her apron and whipping up a big pan of sourdough rolls, all the while, keeping our daddy in line. She has missed him so, and we are at peace knowing they are together again, and for eternity.
Born to Christopher and Ola Waller on September 7, 1931, in the little community of Draw, Texas, Doris was one of eight children. Times were hard back in those depression days, but Doris grew up knowing what she wanted in her life. Graduating from Ben Bolt High School in 1948, it was in that high school that Doris met her sweetheart and love of her life, George William Startz. Married in 1950, William was a farmer and Doris was a farmer’s wife, in the true sense of the word. In the 54 years they had together, their union produced four wonderful children…Helen, Leroy, James and Ellen. Doris and the children worked right along with William in the fields. She fed the chickens and picked the gardens that William grew. With so many fresh vegetables around, Doris soon learned how to can those garden goodies, so that nothing went to waste. She cooked every meal and took William’s lunch and supper out to the field when planting or harvest time rolled around. Doris was quite the good cook and she baked the best sourdough rolls in the county of Victoria. She always kept a starter ready and waiting. As a farmer’s wife, Doris never could really enjoy a thunderstorm because the rain was either too much or not enough to help those growing crops. Having survived four floods in the old farm house the family lived in, Doris rolled up her sleeves and did what had to be done every day of her life. She and William lived a simple country life, and they raised their children knowing what hard work was. Over the many years, in addition to being a farmer’s wife and a mother, Doris worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone, owned and ran Trucker’s Diner, and in her later years, retired from Alice Hospital after 14 years of employment as Assistant Dietary Supervisor. Doris loved to read romance novels, challenged her brain doing word search puzzles, and kept up with her daily favorite soap operas. Quilting became a hobby for Doris later in her life, and she made quilts for anyone who needed one, and obviously a whole bunch of people needed them because over the years, she made dozens. Piecing together fabric and making something beautiful out of those material scraps was a joy to her, and she stitched each piece by hand and with a whole lot of love.
But the real story of Doris Frances Waller Startz is how much she loved her family. She was the proud Grandma of seven beautiful grandchildren, who brought laughter and great joy into her life. Even in her last days, she made sure her four children knew that family is all we really have when it is all said and done, and she made us promise to stay together and love each other. Her children were blessed to be able to have their mother at home at the end of her life on Earth. We know that God welcomed our mother with open arms, as she was a good and faithful servant, and she deserves the riches God has promised us all. It gives us great peace to know that our mom and dad are together again, and as Christians, we have faith we will see them again. Doris is now home with her sweet William.
Preceding Doris in death are her parents, Christopher and Ola Waller, husband George William Startz, and her five brothers and one sister. Surviving Doris is her one remaining brother, Lee Waller, and her four children—Helen Sue Flowers (Ross), William Leroy Startz (Denise), James Ray Startz (Elizabeth) and Ellen Marie Huber (Richard).
Doris was also survived by her seven grandchildren—Ryan Elizabeth Yanes (Isaac), Caleb James Gray Startz, Justin Ross Flowers, Megan Nichole Flowers, Sarah Michelle Startz, Victor David Huber, and Joseph Ehren Huber.
Visitation for Doris will be held at Homegreen Funeral Home in Alice, Texas. Visitation will begin on Thursday, June 30, from 1-8 p.m., with the family receiving visitors from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday morning, July 1st at Homegreen Funeral Home. Services will begin at 10:00 a.m. with burial at Alice Cemetery immediately following the services. A luncheon will follow at the First Baptist Church of Alice, Texas, located on 501 East 2nd Street.
Pallbearers will be Lee Waller, Jr., Darrel Startz, Victor Huber, Isaac Yanes, Chris Waller, and Noel Waller.
Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Justin Flowers, Caleb Startz, and Joseph Huber.
The family would like to thank Retama Manor in Harlingen for all of the gentle care that was given to our mother in the past few weeks. We would also like to thank Dr. Sanusi and Odyssey Hospice, as their kind help and medical knowledge made our mother’s final days peaceful.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Parkinson’s Foundation at www.2.parkinsons.org or at National Parkinson’s Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.
We will miss our mother and our grandma, but what joy we will have when we meet again. We are pretty sure that our mama is already strapping on her apron and whipping up a big pan of sourdough rolls, all the while, keeping our daddy in line. She has missed him so, and we are at peace knowing they are together again, and for eternity.
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