Last updated on August 25, 2022
Doris Jeanette Matthews, age 83 of Rowlett, TX went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 19th after a long battle with dementia. Born on December 10th 1938 in Port Huron MI to John F. Platzer and Doris M. (Gurrow) Platzer. Doris spent her childhood and early teens in Port Huron enjoying the times she spent with her family, church and friends, taking advantage of the simpler times and the beautiful seasons the area had to offer. Even with the harsh winter seasons she enjoyed outdoor ice skating and throwing an occasional snow ball at an unsuspecting passerby. Doris adored her father Jack who taught her a love for the game of baseball, and she could still give us play by play descriptions from the times she used to watch when he played for his Mueller Brass Company baseball team. He passed at a far too early age.
Several years after Doris’ mother remarried, the family moved to Dallas TX settling in the Oak Cliff area where she graduated from South Oak Cliff High School in 1956. She married the day after graduation to her first husband Wesley Crawford and moved to Fort Worth. Her first son Wesley Jr. arrived ten days after her birthday in December of 1957 and her second son Randy arrived in April of 1962. She spent the next several years as a homemaker and worked as a store clerk at Monnigs Department Store near downtown Fort Worth. She was a dedicated Sunday School Teacher, Cub Scout Den Mother and hand-made clothes for her two boys. Her first marriage ended and Doris moved back to Dallas in order to be near her immediate family. Her strong work ethic learned from her parents landed her a great job at Texas Instruments where she built many strong friendships and showed the world how a single Mom can do anything she set her mind to! Little did she know that she would soon meet the true love of her life.
Mom married Billie Ray Matthews on August 31st 1975 and they have been inseparable ever since. They have been a true example to us all when it comes to unconditional love. Mom enjoyed music, baseball–The Rangers, gardening, working with stained glass and creating lifelike dolls all with the help of Bill who loved doing anything as long as it was with Mom. Doris loved dogs and had many throughout her lifetime, treated them as children, made clothes for them and had one that she actually spoon fed when it got a bit finicky. If you wanted a good guard dog she would give you a hundred and one reasons why you needed a German Shepard. She loved being a grandmother and finally getting to hold her grandsons when they were babies then getting to watch them in school plays and many sporting events. Bill’s employment allowed them to live many places: Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado and finally back to Texas. In each town Mom was known for being gentle, kind, loving and putting others before herself. Mom loved Bill dearly, she loved her two boys, her grandsons, her family but most of all, Mom loved Jesus. She would hope that everyone that reads this also knows Jesus, what he has done for us, what he offers us and to love him unconditionally.
Doris is survived by her husband of 48 years, Billie Ray Matthews of Rowlett TX; son Wesley Crawford and wife Teresa of Sherman TX; son Randy Crawford and wife Denise of Prosper TX; step son Billie Matthews: sister Connie Villalobos and husband Jim: grandsons Landon Crawford of McKinney TX and Cameron Crawford of Prosper TX; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Kathy Phillips; step son Willard Matthews.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Monday, August 29, 2022, at Rest Haven Funeral Home Rowlett. The family will gather with friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 am. Interment in Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery will be 11:15 am Wednesday, August 31st. Memorials may be made to In Touch Ministries www.intouch.org
