Doris Olene Kidwell

August 29, 1932 – February 20, 2025

Doris Olene Kelley Kidwell passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 92. She was born in Lockhart, Texas as the youngest child of 8 to John B. Kelley and Bessie Ever Herron.

In 1941, her family moved to Corpus Christi where her father found work as a carpenter building the Naval Air Station. She began attending South Bluff Methodist Church and soon met a boy by the name of James Richard Kidwell. They were friends at church and were in the same homeroom at Wynn Seale Jr. High and Corpus Christi High School from whence they both graduated in 1950. Their friendship blossomed into love and they married in 1953.

While Jim worked hard as a pharmacist supporting his family, Doris built a home of love as a mother to Rick, Jim, and Janice. She served as a Den Mother in Cub Scouts, taught Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and helped out in PTA and in her children’s classrooms.

Doris loved music. She started playing clarinet in elementary school and played in the school bands in junior high and high school. She instilled that love of music in her three children. She was also a skilled seamstress, making many of her family’s clothes and quilts. Doris had a wonderful sense of humor and was eternally optimistic. She lived a life of quiet giving and service.

Doris loved the Lord and the Church. She was a longtime member of South Bluff United Methodist Church and the Chapel Sunday School class in Corpus Christi. Upon her move to San Antonio, she joined Coker United Methodist Church and the John Wesley Sunday School class.

Doris is survived by her loving husband of nearly 72 years, Jim, her children Rick (Melody) Kidwell, daughter-in-law Mary Kidwell, and Janice (Jeff) Lautier, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son James Michael Kidwell.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 11:00 am at Coker Methodist Church, 231 E. North Loop Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78216.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Coker Methodist Church in San Antonio.