Doris T. Elliott

The Early Years: Doris was born on August 14, 1919 in Norfolk, Virginia to Dr. Alan and Mary Taylor. Her dad was a medical doctor in practice with an elderly doctor. While living in Virginia her dad joined the Army Medical Corp where he met Dr. McCord, of Massachusetts. Dr. McCord had recently moved to Durban, South Africa where he was a missionary, running a hospital and clinic. He needed help so Alan, Mary and Doris moved to Durban. Doris’ 3 other siblings (Chandler, Boardman (both deceased) and Eileen (living in Austin, TX) were born in Durban. Doris and her siblings attended parochial schools then boarding schools in Durban and public schools in the US until graduation. Following graduation Doris enrolled in Michigan State University’s nursing program. She worked in hospitals for a time. Through a fellow nursing student, who became a close friend, she met James (Jim) Elliott.

The Elliott Family: Doris and Jim were married on May 16, 1945 in San Antonio, TX. While Jim was in the Air Force, Doris continued to work as a nurse in hospitals wherever Jim was stationed. Once Jim was discharged from the service, they moved to El Paso, TX. In 1949 Jim and Doris had their first child, Linda. Two years later, in 1951, Jeanne was born. Rick was born in 1954 and Julie was born in 1955.

Every summer Doris and Jim would take the family on summer trips. In 1961 the family traveled to Durban, South Africa to spend the summer with Doris’ parents. On the way to Durban the family stopped in Copenhagen, London, Paris, and Rome.

Doris was always busy either carpooling her children to/from school, attending their sporting events, hosting dinner parties at the family home on Butte Circle, etc. On September 19, 1963 she began volunteering at Providence Hospital. Doris continued to volunteer at Providence every Tuesday until she moved to White Acres Retirement Center in 2013. She was also actively involved at Trinity First United Methodist Church, P.E.O., and the El Paso Woman’s Club. Doris loved to walk and would walk at least 1-2 miles, 4 days a week around a neighborhood park. When she moved to White Acres, she continued to walk the floors of the facility which amounted to one mile. She did so until she moved to Sun Ridge in December 2018.

Family was an important part of Doris’ life up until her passing: Linda, Jeanne (husband, Jim, and her stepsons Sean and Cameron, and their granddaughter, Hannah), Rick (wife, Cathy, and their children Scott, Jennifer, Joe, and their grandchildren Arya, Ava, Gavin, Dylan), and Julie (husband, Larry, and their daughter, Brooke, and their grandson, Cook).

The family is saddened that Doris has left this world but consoled that she can reunite with her beloved husband in heaven.