Doris Neel Baumgardner

She is survived by her children, Karen, John (Sabra), Neel (Lauren); grandchildren, Beth Ramos (Sammy), Megan Chapman (Buck), Chris, Brian (Ally), Emma, and Claire; great-grandchildren, Ben, Leah, Asher, Hunter, Raeleigh, and, most recently, Cayden; treasured caregiver, Sonia Monsivais; and a host of friends and admirers. She is preceded in death by her husband of forty years, John (“Buddy”), parents Guy (“Papa”) and Lavieu (“Granny”) Neel, best friend Joanne Smith, and daughter-in-law Karen.

An only child, Doris was born on November 10, 1933 in Charlotte, North Carolina to Guy and Lavieu Neel. They all relocated to Binkley Avenue in Dallas in 1950 in time for Doris to complete her senior year at Highland Park High School where she started dating her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend. Feel free to take a minute to re-read/diagram that last sentence, if needed. Their first date was at the State Fair of Texas where she decided she liked him almost as much as salt water taffy. She married John Baumgardner (yes, same guy as before) in June 1952, and they made their home in Mesquite before moving into a little ranch-style house on Erin Drive in 1963. She’s lived there ever since, except for a few months in 2009 after the house almost burned down. Early on she worked in the Tax Department at the phone company, but later volunteered as a teacher’s aide and was involved in her community through the Poise ‘N Ivy Garden Club and a weekly route for Meals on Wheels. She loved musicals, heavy metal rock, and the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle. Empathetic and an eternal optimist, Doris spent loads of time with family, friends, neighbors, and passersby and always made them feel loved and supported. We all benefitted from her kind example and embrace.

Visiting hours are at 1 p.m. Friday, December 29, 2023 at the Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas, and the funeral to follow at 2 p.m. There will be a reception afterward.

Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home & Memorial Park

7405 West Northwest Highway

Dallas, Texas 75225

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Meals on Wheels: https://www.mealsonwheelstexas.org/