Dorrace "Dorrie" El Wanda Poe

Dorrace was born April 21, 1925, to Theodore and Lucy Hill, in Temple, Texas. Dorrace grew up in Stringtown/Dyess Grove, Texas, on a small farm with her two sisters, Colleen and Marjorie. She helped her parent with the farm, including picking cotton. She attended a one-room school house and graduated from Temple High School, where she was a member of the drill team and school newspaper. Dorrace obtained an Associates Degree from Temple Junior College, where she majored in Journalism.

During World War II, she was a volunteer for the Red Cross. In 1945, she met Virgil in front of the Church of Christ, in Temple. Virgil had returned from the war and visited the church for the first time. He asked Dorrace where the Youth Bible Class was, and she said, "follow me." Virgil says he has been following her ever since. They were married October 16, 1946, in Temple, Texas.

Later, they moved to Portsmouth, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; and Abilene, Texas, where Virgil attended Abilene Christian College. They later moved to Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas, where Dorrace taught Kindergarten at Spring Shadows Elementary and later, worked for the IRS, in Houston, and the Census Bureau, in St. Louis.

Dorrace was a faithful member of the Memorial Church of Christ, since 1959. She taught many children Bible classes. Dorrace was a self-taught oil and watercolor artist. She loved to entertain her friends and family at her home. Virgil and Dorrace travelled all over the world.

Dorrace is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Lucy Hill; sister, Marjorie Hill Hamilton; and brothers-in-law, Charles Willis and James Hamilton.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Virgil Poe, of Houston, Texas; daughter, Jayne Poe Massey, of Jersey Village, Texas; son, Congressman Ted Poe and wife, Carol, of Humble, Texas; sister, Colleen Willis, of Abilene, Texas; eight grandchildren: Kari Dwyer and husband, Alec; Kristi Landreth an husband, Bill; Lisa McAllen and husband, Roman; Lyndsay Holbrook and husband, Josh; Kim Poe Reaves and husband, Derek; Kara Poe Alexander and husband, Shane; Kurt Poe and wife, Suzy; Kellee Poe Shoemaker and husband, Anthony; sixteen great-grandchildren: Victor Dwyer, Rylee Dwyer, Avery Landreth, Zach Landreth, Barrett Reaves, Brooklyn Reaves, Elizabeth Alexander, Peyton Alexander, Levi Alexander, Shaelyn Poe, Jackson Poe, Hallie Poe, Presley Poe, Olivia Shoemaker, Rosalyn Shoemaker, Ivy Shoemaker; and numerous other family members.

Dorrace was a loving, caring, Christian wife, mother and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and whose lives were forever affected.

A private family graveside committal service will be in Temple, Texas, at Hillcrest Cemetery. A public celebration of her life will be at the Memorial Church of Christ, Houston, Texas, on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mrs. Poe's name to Cherokee Home for Children, PO Box 295, Cherokee, Texas 76832.