Doris Woodruff passed away at 7:15 p.m., Monday, December 14, 2015. Doris would like you to know that her work and extensive travels weren’t quite done yet (she expressed interest in going to Tasmania - about the only spot on the earth she had not visited) but she received a call, an offer for a trip she couldn’t refuse. It was a trip she had been looking forward to and one in which she will not be returning. This amazing journey came with a guide that she truly deserved. The journey takes her far, far away yet to a place she will be socializing and jitterbugging with some of her dear friends.

Born Doris Jean Schmidt on September 6, 1934 to Margaret and Archibald Schmidt, she was raised on a farm in Laddonia, Missouri along with her 5 siblings - Ruth, Edward, Leroy, J.T., and Robert. Doris graduated high school and married Bill Woodruff in November of 1952. At that time they moved to Mexico where Bill worked for Kaiser Refractories. Bill was recruited to northern Minnesota as head coach for athletics and Doris “I hate cold weather” Woodruff begrudgingly followed. According to Doris, the best thing about life in northern Minnesota was the birth of her first child, Toni. In 1956 Doris convinced “Bull-headed" Bill to return to Mexico to raise their family. Doris then took a job with Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator.

Doris was an ambitious entrepreneur doing what was needed to support the family. She was the first Welcome Wagon hostess in Mexico and went on to be the regional manager covering most of Missouri. When she got tired of driving all over the state and wanted to concentrate on raising the family, Doris became a licensed insurance salesperson and went to work for Western Southern Life Insurance Company.

Doris was a giver. Very generous with her time, Doris volunteered for many years at the hospital and served many positions with Centennial Baptist Church. She was a national fundraiser for Children’s Rights of America where she traveled the U.S. raising over $100,000 for the organization. This position frequently took her to Hawaii and Doris made a point to return to the islands numerous times. Doris was an avid traveler and a lover of animals. She traveled to many exotic places in search of polar bears, whales, orangutans, gorillas and anything else that moved. Her adventures included floating the entire length of the Amazon as well as treks to Antarctica, the Galapagos, Borneo and Madagascar.

Doris was also very competitive. Most adults will let children win at cards or board games but not Doris. She liked to win and win she did. As a bowler, winning many tournaments around the state and more recently in many bridge clubs.

Doris passed away from cancer at her home in Mexico surrounded by family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and siblings. Surviving family include her four children, Toni Brooks, Terry Woodruff, Tina (JD) Scott and Tracy Cooper. She is also dearly loved by 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

The family requests memorials are sent to The Doris Woodruff Memorial “Bountiful Baskets” Food Drive c/o Centennial Baptist Church, 816 West Breckenridge Street, Mexico, MO 65265.