Doretha was a loving Wife, Mother and Grandmother. Always Family first. She grew up in a large loving family during hard times and learned to share and work hard for everything. She would also contribute to charities and help anyone in need.
She was born on Feb. 11, 1927 and passed on Apr. 21, 2020.
Doretha married Clifford McDaniel Gordon on Oct. 3, 1953, and had three boys. She loved her family dearly and never wanted to leave our side. She would rush home every day after work to have supper on the table by 5:45! She attended all school functions and still held down a job. Doretha was a devout Christian, good and faithful servant, and Sunday School Teacher for First Presbyterian Church for 40 years. She also served as Deacon for the Church for several years.
She enjoyed traveling to different cities during her professional career, for the yearly State Conventions with co-workers who became lifelong friends. She enjoyed watching sports because she played high school basketball. Her favorite team was Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball. She also enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys Football and Texas Rangers Baseball.
She loved to work in the yard, push the lawnmower and plant flower gardens. She also loved to cook and sew. She always said, she learned most of her cooking skills from her older sister, Helen, and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Gordon. She enjoyed writing and sending personal Christmas cards to the whole family each year. She looked forward to the James Family reunion each year to see and visit with all the family she loved so dearly. She always had a smile on her face, and will always be remembered as the Matriarch of the family!
She graduated Durant High School in 1946. She was employed at the Foundry in Durant, at Woolworth Durant-Credit Clerk, she went to California one summer and worked in the fields, she worked for the Dept. of Agriculture from 1963-1970, Natural Recourses Conservation Service from 1971-1989, and the Bryan Conservation district from 1989-2003
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford McDaniel Gordon; father, Charles Luther James; mother, Bonnie Vesta (Stansel) James, and stepmother,Leona Melvina James; sisters: Helen Marie James Mullens Renegar of Durant, Okla., Ruby Mildred James Koonce of Durant, Okla., Velma Christine James of Skiatook, Okla., Charlene James Ivy of Kerrville, Texas, Reba Georgene James Moore of Odessa, Texas, Mary Magdalene James of Dallas, Texas; brothers: J. B. (Jesse Berry) James of Mead, Okla., Philip Glen James of Odessa, Texas, and Charles Lee James, Bedford, Texas.
She is survived by children: Daniel L. and Sherri Gordon of Durant, Okla., Gregory P. Gordon of Durant, Okla., Scott H. Gordon of Durant, Okla.; grandson, Christopher S. Gordon of Durant, Okla.; sister, Betty Jean James Sullivan of Hoover, Ala.; brother, Billy Joe James, Uvalde, Texas; and many, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
A come-and-go family hour will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant. A graveside service for Doretha will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Restland Cemetery in Silo, Okla. with Rev. Mike Manaugh. A live video of her graveside service will be available for friends and family to view at Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home facebook page. A memorial service is pending at a later date.
Governor Stitt’s 77 county referendum states for Oklahoma:
Due to the COVID-19 virus the following applies as of March 26, 2020. There will be no congregate gatherings of 10 or more individuals allowed. This includes visitations, funerals, burials or any gatherings conducted in our community. We will do our absolute best to work with each family in a way that provides a high level of service and care. We appreciate our communities.
In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that memorials be made in her name to the First Presbyterian Church, 501 N. 15th Ave., Durant, OK 74701 www.fpcdurant.com
Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.