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Lena Margaret
(Harper) Douphrate
Carrollton &
Farmers Branch
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> Lena Margaret (Harper) Douphrate
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1963 Roar
R. L. Turner High School
Carrollton, Dallas Co., Texas
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OBITUARY
 North
Dallas Funeral Home
Lean Margaret (Harper) Douphrate of Carrollton, Texas passed away on
Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the age of 82.
Lena was born July 20, 1934 in Denton, Texas. By the age of 12, her
parents, Irvin and Idell Harper had skipped around the U.S., following
Irvin’s Naval officer career during World War II. They moved three times
during her 6th grade year, which included a stint in Boston where her
classmates listened wide-eyed to Lena’s made-up stories about her cattle
ranch that her family owned in the wild state of Texas. By 1946 Irvin
and Idell had settled in Gilmer, deep in the heart of East Texas, where
Irvin was the Regional Appraiser at Federal Land Bank.
Irvin and Idell established early in their marriage and home the
importance of faith. Lena learned from a young age about the love of
Jesus and decided early to follow His path for her life, grateful for
His grace.
Soon after arriving in Gilmer in 1946, a young blonde chap caught Lena’s
eye. His name was Billy and they were in the 6th grade. Their romance
burned and cooled during junior high and high school. In the summer of
1950, her high school senior year, Lena was crowned the 13th Yam Queen
of the East Texas Yamboree, and in the spring graduated with the Gilmer
High class of 1951. Lena and Bill went their separate ways for college,
Lena to Baylor and Bill to Texas A&M. Lena worked to finish her degree
at Baylor in three years so they could marry on August 8, 1954, the
summer before Bill marched in his senior boots on Kyle Field with the
Texas Aggie Band.
Bill graduated in May of 1955, and later in August of the same year Anel
(Lena spelled backwards) made her appearance. Just a few months later,
the Army beckoned and moved the young Douphrate family to New Jersey and
then to North Carolina. A quick and surprising thirteen months later,
along came William L. (Dub).
By 1960, the Douphrates made their home in Carrollton, and with Anel and
Dub in school, Lena was able to use her business education degree at R.L.
Turner High School teaching typing, business law, and shorthand. The
summer of 1966 found Lena radiating with a glow of pregnancy of baby #3,
Della Jane; and just a couple years later along came David.
Once the younger set were in school, Lena desired to expand her
education and finished her Master’s in Education in counseling at North
Texas State University. She then served as Vocational Counselor at
Newman Smith High School for ten years. In 1983, Lena and her fellow
counselor and dear friend Windy Sitton switched gears a bit, spread
their entrepreneurial wings and launched The Color Connection with the
goal to educate fellow career minded women on the importance of image
and wardrobe choices.
Lena was an amazing woman. She could complete the New York Times
crossword in 15 minutes…in pen. She spoke fluent Spanish, and was known
to tutor immigrant families with their English. A true southern lady,
she never went out without her makeup and a huge smile. She was a Boy
Scout den mother, and endless crafter of costumes.
She was both a party planner extraordinaire and then the life of the
same party. She was a compassionate drier of tears with a gentle
listening ear. She was queen of the neighborhood fun house, and later,
present for the births of all of her grandchildren. A member of the
First Baptist Church, Carrollton since 1960, she loved her church family
dearly.
Lena’s grand achievement was watching her children and grandchildren
grow and learn. On one wall of their home she proudly displays all
graduation photos of them receiving diplomas, upwards of 50, from
kindergarten all the way through PhDs and MDs.
Lena is preceded in glory by her parents Idell and Irvin Harper, as well
as grandson William Lucas Douphrate III (Luke). She is survived by her
husband of 63 years, Bill; children Anel Ryan (husband John), W.L. (Dub)
Douphrate II (wife Ginger), Della Allen (husband Rick), and Dr. David
Douphrate (wife Jeanne). Lena was the proud grandmother to 14
grandchildren, Scott Bow, Dr. Brad Bow, Tyler Blalock, Dr. Emily
McCullar, Kaitlyn (Douphrate) Bissenden, Drew Douphrate, Mickey Evans,
Lenae (Allen) Stamps, David Allen, Jane Allen, Claire Allen, Evan
Douphrate, Nathan Douphrate, and Slater Douphrate, as well as 5
great-grandchildren.
The family will be receiving visitors on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 from
6:00 to 8:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Carrollton, 2400 N. Josey
Lane, Carrollton, Texas 75006.
Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 2:00 pm also at
the church.
There will be a procession from the church to Perry Cemetery in
Carrollton where Lena will be laid to rest. |
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WEDDING
Miss Lena Harper, Former Denton Resident, Weds In Gilmer
Ceremony
Miss Lena Margaret Harper, formerly of Denton, exchanged marriage vows with
William L. Douphrate Sunday afternoon in the First Baptist Church in Gilmar. Dr.
D. A. Williams officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Harper and Mr. Douphrate is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Douphrate, all of Gilmer.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a formal-length gown of white
organdy embroidered in a flower and leaf design. The tiered scalloped skirt
extended to a train from the fitted bodice. The neckline gave an off-the-sholder
effect with short, scalloped sleeves. Elbow length mitts were of the same
organdy. Her fingertip veil fell from a headpiece of the organdy, and she
carried a white orchid with stephanotis attached to satin streamers. Her only
jewelry was a string of pears, gift of the bridegroom.
Mrs. Charles Cozzens of Lawton Okla., was matron of honor, and bridesmaids were
Miss Mary Ann Ragland, Miss Bonnie Williams, and Miss Ann Howe of Daingerfield.
Jane Michael was junior bridesmaid.
Jimmy Earl Henry was bestman. Ushers were Charles Cozzens, Marion Mathis and
Johnny Cates of Gilmer, and groomsmen were Athol Flannigan of Arizona, Charter
Newton of Tyler and George Dalton of Pittsburg.
Candlelighters were Elaine Douphrate and Gerald Shockey.
A reception was held after the ceremony in the chruch banquet hall.
Mrs. Douphrate is a graduate of Baylor University, where she was president of
Phi Gamma Nusorority.
After a wedding trip to Rockaway Beach, Mo., the couple will live in College
Station, where he will be a senior student at Texas A&M College next year.
Amond the out-of-town guest at the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Griffith and
Mrs. Bailey Caffety of Denton. |
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