Doris Merle (Meeck) Lasiter

On Thursday, May 14, 2020, Doris Merle Meeck Lasiter (affectionately known as Mammaw and Aunt Doris,) passed away peacefully in her sleep, at the age of 93, at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Texas. Doris was born in Palestine, Texas, on February 4, 1927, to O. F. Meeck and Erna VonGonten Meeck.

She grew up in Palestine, Texas and finished her formal education at Palestine High School where she played the clarinet in the Palestine Marching Band.  In 1944, she married Thurman Lloyd Lasiter.  They were married 51 years and had three children, Jerry Lynn Lasiter, Larry Joe Lasiter, and Patricia Kay Lasiter Wardell.  Doris and Lloyd lived in Alderbranch, Texas, a small community outside of Palestine where they farmed and ranched for many years.  She was a life-long member of Antioch Baptist Church on Highway 84.

Cooking, crafting, sewing, canning fresh vegetables, collecting cruets, saving money, helping Lloyd with all the farm chores, and tending to Jerry constantly, who was disabled for 33 years before his death were just a few of her skills.  She also was able to impart her vast wealth of Biblical wisdom and common sense to her children and grandchildren, whom she loved more than life.  In her later years, she could be seen working crossword puzzles, shopping with her daughter, Tricia and granddaughters, Jayme and Jodi, all over central and east Texas.  She loved to travel as well.  Her favorite trips were with Lloyd, but she also enjoyed the Alaskan cruise with Larry’s family as well as all the trips she took with Tricia Wardell’s family.

Mrs. Lasiter is preceded in death by her parents O. F. and Erna Meeck; husband, Thurman Lloyd Lasiter; son, Jerry Lynn Lasiter; sister, Laverne Johnson; and brother, Charles Meeck.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Wardell and husband Joe of Jacksonville, TX; son, Larry Lasiter and wife Claudia of Lufkin, TX; sisters, Joyce Grasty and Aileen Batte; grandchildren, Jason Wardell and wife Jodi, Jayme Mason and husband Chris, Grant Lasiter and wife Amanda, Leslie Volmer and husband Blake, Angela Larson and husband Austin, Shannon Bohlen and husband Jeffrey; and 16 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Doris Lasiter is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 18th day of May 2020, in the Rhone Memorial Chapel with Bro. Bud Magee and Bro. Alex Lipscomb officiating.  Interment will follow in Roselawn Park. 

Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family one hour prior to the commencement of service at Rhone Funeral Home.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Grant Lasiter, Jason Wardell, Austin Larson, Jeffrey Bohlen, Blake Volmer and Chris Mason.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mrs. Lasiter’s memory can be directed towards Texas Baptist Home for Children, 615 Richmond Lane, Waxahachie, Texas 75165 or Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 8669 E. US Highway 84, Palestine, Texas 75801.

Funeral services for Doris Merle Lasiter are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas.  

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