Doris Bleakley Woods Elkins

Doris Bleakley Woods Elkins, passed away at age 83, on Thursday, May 4, 2017. She was a resident of Friendship Haven Healthcare in Friendswood, Texas. Doris was born on June 16, 1933, in Parkdale, Arkansas to Elizabeth Yates Bleakley and Robert Crawford Bleakley. Doris is survived by her son, Phillip Kent Woods of Houston; her stepdaughter, Sandra Elkins Christian of San Leon, TX; her stepson, Bill Riley Elkins III and his wife, Carol of Bay City, TX; her brother, David William Bleakley of Groves, TX; her stepsister, Linda Bates of Tracy, CA; and her stepbrother, Richard Allen Hall III of Colorado; a sister-in-law, Lawana Bleakley of Dallas, TX; a sister-in-law, Peggy Weldon of Bay City, TX; two step-granddaughters, Carolyn "Carrie" Kolb, and Alexandria "Allie" Kolb, both of San Leon, TX; a step-granddaughter, Celeste Elkins, and step-grandson, Tyler Elkins, both of Bay City, TX; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Doris was predeceased by her two wonderfully devoted husbands, Phillip Ray Woods and Bill Riley Elkins II; her parents; her stepfather, Richard Allen Hall Jr.; her brother, Robert Edward Bleakley; her sister-in-law, Anne A Bleakley; and a great-niece, Avery Anne Guerra. The early childhood of Doris and her two brothers had unstable beginnings. However, she loved to tell everyone how her "Heavenly Father" brought Dr. John M. Wright of First Baptist Church, Port Arthur, Texas into the lives of these children. Doris always referred to Dr. Wright as a Instrument of our Lord's Grace, because he counseled and advised Doris' Mother to place her three children into Buckner Orphans Home of Dallas, TX. In their new Buckner Home, these children were taught Christian values and impeccable work ethics. Those qualities would guide and motivate Doris throughout her life. As an adult, Doris attended Port Arthur College where she received those secretarial skills that formed and sustained her entire vocational life. In the first thirteen years of her employment, Doris served as the church secretary for Central Baptist Church, Port Arthur. Later, the employment of Doris' first husband, Phillip, took he and Doris to many large construction projects throughout the United States. For example, two of these included our Interstate Highway System and the Nuclear Power Station in Bay City, Texas. Ultimately Doris' secretarial skills allowed her to become an Executive Secretary, for one of the Vice Presidents in Brown & Root Corporation. A time of Visitation for family and friends will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. A Service to celebrate the Life and Homecoming of Doris will follow our time of visitation, it will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Levingston Funeral Home. The service will be officiated by Bro. Keith Meyer. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to: Buckner Children & Family Services, 9055 Manion; Beaumont, TX 77706 or to Avery Anne Guerra Memorial Foundation, P. O. Box 1544, Groves, TX 77619-1544. Our extended family would be remiss if we failed to express our heartfelt appreciation to Sandra, "Carrie", and "Allie" for their attentive and compassionate care of Doris. Also we are eternally grateful for the Staff of Hospice Plus and Friendship Haven Healthcare in Friendswood, TX. Doris knew that she was loved; God Bless You Always! Grace & Peace