Doris Parr Southern

Doris Parr Southern, 87, passed away Jan. 16, 2013, at her home in Fayetteville. Born Jan. 23, 1925, in Kansas City, Mo., and raised in Little Rock, Doris moved to Northwest Arkansas with her parents, Bertha and Roger Gilliham, in 1945, when her father was appointed superintendent of Devil's Den State Park near Winslow. She graduated from Central High School in Little Rock. Doris joined Standard Register Company in Fayetteville in 1962, where she served until her retirement in 1991. She held multiple positions, serving the majority of her tenure in the collating department. Not one to sit still, Doris launched a second career shortly after retiring from Standard Register, serving as manager of Razorback Mobile Home Park in South Fayetteville from 1991 until recently. In her role as Razorback Park manager, she earned a much-deserved reputation for watching out for residents as though they were family. Doris showed the same respect and concern toward many others. Several Fayetteville Police Department officers who visited with family members after learning of her death, tearfully related stories of how she sometimes brought them lemonade and cookies when they were on assignment in or near the mobile home park. Her carrot cakes were legendary. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister. She is survived by sons, Dave Southern of Fayetteville and Gary Southern of Rogers; an "honorary daughter," Glenda Thomas of Fayetteville; and one grandson. Visitation will be at Beard's Funeral Chapel, 855 S. Happy Hollow Road in Fayetteville from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. A graveside memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at Dowell Cemetery on Cato Springs Road in Fayetteville. Online condolences: www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.