Flora Marlene (Doss) Barnes

Flora Marlene Doss Barnes, 93, of Memphis TN passed away April 14, 2025, in her shared home of her daughter and son in law. Marlene is now amongst her family that brought her laughter and lighter times. She is also on the greatest comedy tour of all, following her beloved Johnny Carson, Flip Wilson, Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, and Bob Hope.

We children fondly recall late nights with Mom setting up the ironing board with a basket of clothes to be pressed in front of the tube and telling us, “It was well past our bedtime.” This was her carved-out special moment where her attention would be placed on those who brought her merriment and spoke her comedic language. However, it could not be just her and Johnny Carson, because her “homework” wasn’t finished. Mom would stand for an hour and half, sliding each garment onto the board, starching, steaming, and turning each piece until every crevice of fabric was ironed and stood at attention.

On the rarest of occasions, she would allow my siblings and I to stay up if Jack Hanna was to be a guest. It was those times we would watch our mother work and move rhythmically in this laundry dance that she made look so enticing. This was the only dance our mother had time for. Long gone were the days she dreamed of dancing the night away with anyone who could match her energy. The laundry dance was its replacement. Unsure if comedians are aware, but the term “stand-up” comedy has more than one meaning. It applied to our mother and the makeshift comedy club in our 800 square feet home where props were the ironing board, clothes, tools of the trade, and our mother “standing” in front of the television stage bellowing out laughter to the king of late-night comedy for that precious ninety minutes.

As Marlene continues to rub elbows with departed family, friends, and famed comedians with eternal joy and laughter, we reflect on her life that began April10, 1932, during the Great Depression. Marlene was born at home in Hinkle TN to Arvel and Agnes Doss.

Marlene was a devoted daughter to her parents working on their farm planting, chopping, and picking cotton, while also obtaining her primary education in a one room school house. Marlene attended Saltillo High School and participated in cheer and basketball and was president of her class. Marlene eloped and married Samuel Gilbert Howell in her late teens, which created a major deviation of her educational plans. Out of a short and turbulent marriage something wonderful occurred, her first son, Samuel Gilbert Howell was born.

Marlene and son, Sammy, moved to Memphis to be with her recently relocated parents. Marlene was employed by Kimberly Clarke and worked hard to purchase her first car, a 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Aire Coupe that she drove off the showroom floor from the car dealership on Front Street.

It was at Kimberly Clarke where she met her second husband, Ottis Barnes. They married in early 1957, and purchased their first home in Memphis in 1962, where she raised their additional children, Douglas, Kathy, and Alisa. Marlene and husband resided in Memphis until 2000, when they moved to their

new home in Fayette County and official retirement began. There she became involved in her new community and developed friendships with fellow members of First Baptist Church of Gallaway.

Marlene “owned” her transition into Golden-hood deciding to stop coloring her hair and allowed her beautiful, healthy, white hair sparkle. We children applauded her choice of being her authentic self. It was also a huge benefit to be able to find our mother in a crowded room, quickly.

Marlene mastered many things during her life. She was a life-long caregiver of family, cotton picker, athlete, baker, seamstress, gardener, assembly line worker, church member, champion for abused women, election poll worker, personal taxi, home cook, laundress, self-taught financial guru, family documentarian, caregiver for her parents, Agnes and Arvel, and her husband, Ottis. Marlene is also known for her quick sense of humor and comedic timing. An artist in her own right. Marlene was selfless, sacrificial, smart, patient beyond measure, gracious, and resilient.

The last ten years of her life were lived with her daughter Kathy, and her husband Richard. They were her constant, dedicated, and protracted care givers while she battled Parkinson’s disease. Bettye Howard-Mims a trusted and loved nurse made our lives more bearable throughout the last couple of years and was present with Kathy and Richard as Marlene transitioned. We are forever grateful for Bettye’s love and care.

Marlene was preceded in death by parents, Elmer Arvel Doss and Flora Agnes Hanna, maternal grandparents, Hugh L. Hanna Sr. and Della Mae McMurry, paternal grandparents, Robert Franklin Doss and Arizona Grissom, husbands, Samuel G. Howell and Ottis Franklin Barnes (Darty), and grandson, Cory Todd Howell.

She is survived by her brother, Max B. Doss (Harriett) of Manlius NY; sons, Samuel G. Howell (Cherie’) of Memphis TN and Douglas F. Barnes (Kueilan) of Lakeland TN; daughters, Kathy Barnes-Lou (Richard) of Memphis TN, and Alisa Barnes-Dohogne of Gilbert AZ; grandsons, Toby A. Howell of Bon Aire, GA,

Aubrey F. Barnes and fiancé, Lizzie Miller of Bartlett TN, Joshua M. Barnes of Lakeland TN, Jarrett C. Dohogne (Emily) of Decatur GA, Doss A. Dohogne and fiancé, Hayley Reed of Gilbert AZ; great grandsons, Blake A. Howell and Talon J. Howell of Bon Aire GA., great-granddaughter, Cecilia Flora Dohogne of Decatur GA. Bonus grandchildren, Gloria Lou Elion (Jerrico), Maricela Lou-Gaitor (Brandon), Magda Lou, Ming Lou, and bonus great-grandchildren, Quetzalli and Túpac Gaitor, all of Memphis TN.

Marlene’s life will be celebrated at Colonial Park United Methodist Church, 5330 Park Avenue, Memphis TN on Friday, April 18, 2025. Visitation at 10:00 a.m. with services beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial and Graveside at 3:00 p.m. at Enville Woodlawn Cemetery in Enville Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

A visitation for Marlene will be held Friday, April 18, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Colonial Park United Methodist Church, 5330 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38119. A funeral service will occur Friday, April 18, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 5330 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38119. A graveside service will occur Friday, April 18, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 3:15 PM at Enville Woodlawn Cemetery, Cemetery Rd, Enville, TN 38332.