Joan Dorris

Joan Dorris of Rio Frio, Texas entered into the presence of the Lord on Monday, February 10, 2025 at her home in Rio Frio, Texas. Joan was born on July 4, 1927 in San Benito, Texas to Oren Joyce Pederson and Barbara Bernice Hardwick Pederson. She married the love of her life, Robert Louis Dorris, on June 29,1946.

Joan, a dedicated housewife and loving mother to four, was affectionately known as Grandma by her three granddaughters, G-Maw by her only grandson, and Ms. Joan by many of all ages. Whether teaching fifteen 3-year-olds at First Baptist Church in Brownsville, TX or hosting Vacation Bible School at her home in Brownsville, Joan always showed God’s love through patience and kindness. She never ceased to stop freely giving of her time. She thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in her daughter’s special needs classroom in Leakey, TX. While serving her Lord at Frio Canyon Baptist Church in Leakey, TX, Ms. Joan accompanied a group of young girls to GA Camp, worked in the nursery, as well as, with 3–4-year-olds, taught Vacation Bible School, and was at one point lead teacher for Children’s Church. As she leaned on God’s Word, Ms. Joan believed that no task was too small or difficult. She viewed mentoring boys and girls at Big Springs Ranch for Children in Leakey, TX as another opportunity to tell others that their life will be better if they’ll just ask God to walk with them. Joan also had a deep love of animals, domestic and wild. She enjoyed feeding her furry feline friends, her dainty little hummingbirds, majestic deer, and an occasional wild turkey. Joan enjoyed sharing her love of cooking with family and friends. Each meal was prepared with love and perfection. She also spent months at a time creating beautiful works of art through her quilting.

Joan will be reunited in Heaven with her husband, Robert Louis Dorris; sons, William Deen Dorris and David Wayne Dorris; parents, Oren Joyce Pederson and Barbara Bernice Pederson; sisters, Ruby Jean Cheshire, Billie Joyce Gunsel, Barbara Sue Wyatt, and Peggy Lynn Artley.

Those left to honor Joan’s memory include her son, Oren Joyce Dorris of Leakey, TX; daughter, Roberta Ann Munsinger and spouse, Frank Edward Munsinger of Leakey, TX; sister, Wanda Lee Duncan of Hope, Arkansas; granddaughter, Miranda Lee Hein and spouse, Arron Hein of Spokane, WA and twin granddaughters, Kasey Marie Dorris and Megan Elise Dorris of Spokane, WA, grandson, Mateo Alexander Galvan of Leakey, TX; daughters-in-love, Bonita Kay Dorris of Moses Lake, WA, Jill Jollay of Tucson, AZ, and Deborah Jean Dorris of Friendswood, TX and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and well-loved neighbors.

Family and friends will gather to honor Joan’s life of 97 years at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2025 at Rio Frio Cemetery in Rio Frio, TX with Pastor Jeff Janca of Frio Canyon Baptist Church officiating.

Pallbearers will be Frank Munsinger, Mateo Galvan, Jody Dorris, Todd Dorris, Alan Dorris, and Taylor Reilly.

Those wishing to honor Joan through a memorial may give to International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Samaritan’s Purse, Uvalde Memorial Hospice & Palliative Care, ASPCA or any other animal rescue shelter. The family of Joan wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Jamil Bitar, Dr. Isaac Sosa, Dr. Samita Sosa and her wonderful staff at Uvalde Memorial Hospital and Uvalde Memorial Hospice & Palliative Care, as well as, the Uvalde Memorial Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy department. We find comfort in knowing that our beloved mother and prayer warrior is now at peace in the arms of her Savior.