Doris Burgess

Doris Rogers Burgess, age 90 died peacefully in her sleep December 22, 2013 at her daughter's house in Houston, Texas. She was born November 30, 1923 in Memphis, Tennessee to Henry Floy Rogers and Eula Adcock Rogers. She graduated with honors at age sixteen from Nickolas Blackwell High School in Bartlett, Tennessee and soon started work with Memphis radio station WMC as a script typist. She later was a stewardess with Chicago and Southern Airlines based in Memphis. In 1945 Doris was alternate Maid of Cotton. She married John Owen Burgess, November 23, 1945 at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis. After three years as residents of Jackson, Tennessee the couple moved to Owen's hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee. There, Owen joined the family owned newspaper business, the States-Graphic. Doris was a homemaker for years until she filled in for an employee who was on maternity leave. Until their retirement, she never left the newspaper business. Owen became editor and Doris started her weekly column, Across My Desk. They built a successful business and in 1979-80 Owen served as president of the Tennessee Press Association with Doris by his side. She was most proud to have served on the Haywood County School Board that successfully oversaw the integration of Brownsville's public schools. She volunteered as a reading teacher, loved crosswords and books, Bible studies, her children and their friends. She was a sports fan and golfer and won many local and state tournaments. She and Owen were frequent visitors to the Masters with her sister and her husband. After their husbands' deaths, the two went to Augusta many times together. There was a large picture of Freddie Couples on her refrigerator at the time of her death. She was predeceased by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, her husband, John Owen Burgess, and her son, John Owen Burgess, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Janice Burgess Harsh and husband George Westervelt Harsh, Jr, of Houston, Texas, her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Hall Burgess of Memphis, Tennessee. Granddaughter, Caroline Harsh Bennett and husband Kelly, grandsons George Westervelt Harsh III and wife Karen, of Houston, TX and John Owen Burgess III and wife Jodi of Bells, Tennessee. She was adored by her great-grandsons, Dakota John Harsh, John Owen Bennett, and Kelly Westervelt Bennett of Houston, TX and Benjamin Owen Burgess of Bells, TN. She leaves three sisters; Peggy Rogers Wilks and brother-in-law- Chuck of Keller, TX, Barbara Rogers Wright and Lela Ann Rogers of Memphis, TN and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Brownsville, TN and was a Daughter of the King. Visitation will be Friday January 3, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00P.M. at Lea and Simmons Funeral Home, 1280 S. Dupree Street, Brownsville, Tennessee 38102. Funeral Services will be held in the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. A private burial will follow.