Doris Marie Kellis Iker Davenport

Doris Marie Kellis Iker Davenport was born November 14, 1930, to Ben Franklin Kellis and Sudie Elizabeth Starr Kellis, as the second of four children. As a child, Doris lived and attended school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Shreveport, Louisiana, Tyler, Texas, and Longview, Texas. Shortly after beginning high school, she became ill and did not return to school, but was proud to complete her education and earn her GED many years later as an adult.
She enjoyed working, and her favorite job as a young “chick” was as an operator at the telephone company. Later in life, she worked in the office of Dr. Francisco Cibele and retired after many years of service. Doris cherished her time with him and his family as well as the many things she learned under his guidance.

In the Fall of 1948, she met Eugene Iker of Kilgore. They courted and were married on January 29, 1949. They lived in Kilgore, Texas, for the remainder of their lives. She and Eugene have three children; Claudia Suzanne Clark of Denison, Carol Ann Iker of Kilgore, and Ronald Eugene Iker (wife, Paula) of Longview who were all raised in the home Eugene built with his own hands, which Doris spent the remainder of her life in.

Following Eugene's sudden death in December of 1968, Doris became a single mother and worked hard for her family. Eventually working at Region 7 Education Service Center and crossed paths with Johnny Ray Davenport who worked at Kilgore College. They were married on November 26, 1971 and lived a life of faith, family and friendship until Johnny's death on their 46th wedding anniversary in 2017.

An explorer at heart, Doris enjoyed traveling all over the country. She also loved reading, listening to music and experiencing nature. Above all else, she faithfully attended and loved worshiping God at Highland Park Baptist Church, and she cherished the friendships that were forged there. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and both beloved husbands.

She is survived by her children as well as six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren with another on the way, and seven great-great grandchildren with another on the way, along with countless friends and loved ones who will forever cherish her memory.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family is requesting a donation made in Doris's honor to The Salvation Army in gratitude of their kindness and care of Doris and her brother Bill as children, her beloved church home Highland Park Baptist Church in Kilgore, or Hospice of East Texas whose kindness and care of Doris and the family in her final days was truly beautiful and greatly appreciated.

Graveside services for Doris Marie Kellis Iker Davenport will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 23, 2019 at Danville Cemetery with Brother Blake Kimbrough and Brother Riley Pippen officiating. Family will receive friends from 12:00 -1:30 Monday afternoon at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. Mrs. Davenport passed away on Friday, December 20, 2019 in Kilgore.