Doris Breaux Garey

On Tuesday, August 12, 2024, we bid an emotional final farewell to Doris (Breaux) Garey, of Georgetown, Texas. Twice the good wife, beloved mother, grandmother and Mexican Train player extraordinaire, Doris died at Baylor/Scott & White Hospital in Round Rock, of sudden illness. She was 93.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, August 22, at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, followed by burial at 10 a.m. Thursday, at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, 1117 E. Seventh, Georgetown. The Rev. Alan McGrath with First United Methodist Church Georgetown will officiate.

A Memorial will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, August 29, in the Garey House, Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, Georgetown. Light refreshments and fond reminiscing will follow.

Doris Marie Saxon was born December 4, 1930, at Hotel Dieu in Beaumont, Texas, to Cecil F. Saxon (1905-1970), of Ragley, Texas, and Erma Mae (Dailey) Saxon (1912-1984), of High Island, Texas. Doris was the first of two children: Her late sister, Glenda F. Saxon (1934-1979), arrived three years later. A photo of the Dailey family’s 1942 reunion at Beaumont’s Tyrell Park underscores the fact that Doris was born into a large family, with 11 aunts, uncles and their spouses, and a number of first cousins. One distant relative, Charles Cronea, of High Island, participated in the Texas Revolution, making her eligible for membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Georgetown Chapter.

After graduating from South Park High in 1950, Doris married Glen Andre Breaux, her childhood friend-turned-high school beau, in a civil ceremony on July 1 of the same year. From this marriage came their three children — first Gary, then Craig and finally Julie.

Newly married and anxious to make her mark on the world, Doris turned a year of office administration studies at nearby Lamar College into a successful, sustained career as an executive secretary. She worked at the Architectural School at Texas A&M University while Glen attended school there (Class of ’52). When Glen’s company transferred him to New York City, Doris found satisfying work for an executive with Continental Baking Co., Rye, N.Y., and later in Odessa for the first two presidents of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (1972-1977).

If you attended classes at UTPB — or you simply enjoy the use of their walking trails, soccer fields or softball diamonds — remember Doris. It was her many catered breakfasts for Odessa’s biggest influencers in the early 1970s that generated much-needed support for the school — a lightning rod of controversy back then.

Doris was instrumental in the founding of what is now known as the Ellen Noel Art Museum in Odessa. Every year for 10 years, she and other community-minded citizens organized and held Fiesta del Arte, a juried art exhibit and auction that raised $1 million toward construction of the museum, which opened in 1985.

If that wasn’t enough, Doris went on to earn a real estate brokers license, selling real estate until 1987, when she and Glen decided to retire and spend the next 10 years “glamping” in their RV, “Fancy Free.” That all ended with Glen’s passing in August 2007.

Sociable by nature, widowhood didn’t suit Doris. She was ready when a secretary at her church matched her up with widower, Alan Jack Garey, of Georgetown. The match took and in March 2014 Doris and Jack were married — both at 84 years young — in a civil ceremony at his ranch. Although their time together was brief, the pair enjoyed each other’s company — whether toodling around the ranch, playing Mexican Train or flying to various racetracks around the country to watch his thoroughbreds compete.

Jack died in March 2022 at his beloved ranch, which is now known as Garey Park.

While Doris had First United Methodist Church to thank for getting her and Jack together, the church was more than a matchmaker. She and Glen were active members — she serving on the board of trustees, and preparing lunches as part of the Caregivers Day Out ministry.

Others preceding her in death include her mother, father, sister; Glen; Jack; brother-in-law Baxter L. Breaux, and niece Shari Breaux, both of Odessa.

Doris is survived by her three children: son Gary R. Breaux and his wife Sally (Cauthen), of Denver; son Craig A. Breaux and his wife Janet (Lawhon), of Georgetown; daughter Julie A. Breaux, of Odessa, Texas; and three grandchildren: Jennifer S. Breaux, John A. Breaux and Christopher G. Breaux, all of Georgetown.

Blessed in so many ways, Doris did not want to leave this Earth, but when she did, she left it with a full heart and satisfied mind. May her memory be a blessing. Rest in peace, Doris.

Donations may be made to R.O.C.K., the Ride On Center for Kids, P.O. Box 2422, Georgetown TX 78626. On the Web at rockride.org.

Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home of Georgetown is in charge of all arrangements. Call (512) 863-2564.