Doris Griffith 87, extraordinary musician and loving mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully on May 25, 2014. Doris Jones Griffith was born in Ft Worth to Enoch E. Jones and Effie Davis Jones on August 5, 1926. She graduated with honors from Paschal HS in Ft Worth where she was Concert Master of the orchestra and ranking tennis player. Doris began a distinguished music and teaching career by earning her teaching certificate at Lindenwood College, St. Charles, MO, where she was a member of Phi Mu and Concert Master. She continued her education at TCU receiving a music degree followed by her Masters at SMU. Doris studied music privately with a number of leading musicians including Ralph Hersh, Gertrude Isidore, Rene Solomon, Brooks Morris, Francis MacMillen, Don Gillis and John Lewis. Doris was a sought after guest-conductor across the state for many years as well as a distinguished violist and violinist with the Forth Worth Symphony, Civic Opera and Civic Orchestra. Doris taught music and conducted in Fort Worth, Dallas, Grand Prairie and Highland Park for over four decades. She was Highland Park High School Symphony Orchestra conductor from 1952 69. The HP Orchestra was acclaimed as one of the finest in the southwest performing concerts, operettas and musicals to packed audiences. Her former HP orchestra students visited her regularly. Doris was a Founding Member, officer and driving force of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association. Doris served as Assistant Conductor of the SMU Chamber Orchestra and Dallas Civic Symphony. She taught private string lessons for 25 years. Doris performed for many years across Dallas playing with the very popular Merry Players. Doris was a devoted, life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Dallas and her beloved Aldersgate Sunday School Class. The family would like to thank Rev. Dale Hunt, Bishop and Mrs. John Wesley Hardt, Sandra Osborn, John Gould, Shirley Kochman, Wanda Spoonmore, the members of the Aldersgate Class and all her many friends and former students for their loving support. Doris is preceded in death by her brother, Enoch Gerald Jones and sister, Betty Jones Holloway. She is survived by her son Gary Griffith of Dallas, daughter-in-law Jackie Griffith, granddaughters Victoria Jones Griffith of Dallas, Amanda Clay Oakes of Franklin, TN, great grandsons Austin Orend Oakes and Hudson Griffith Oakes of Franklin, TN., and niece Linda Jones Fabian and nephew Douglas Gerald Jones both of Houston. Visitation will be at Laurel Oaks Funeral Home, 12649 Lake June Road, Mesquite, 75180 on Wednesday, May 28 from 5 to 7 PM. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, May 29 at 2 PM at First United Methodist Church, Dickerson Chapel,1928 Ross Ave. Dallas. The family will receive friends following the Memorial Service. Private family burial services will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ft. Worth.
Published in Dallas Morning News from May 27 to May 28, 2014