Doris Marie Carter

Doris Marie Carter passed away peacefully at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center on August 20, 2016, after an extended illness. She was born on January 1, 1931 to Jeanette and Hinch Gilliam. Her mother and dad celebrated New Years Day with the birth of their baby girl. Her dad chose the name Doris because of the movie star, Doris Day. True to her movie star name, Doris's beautiful smile always lit up every room. Doris attended Sullivan West High School. In 1949, after graduating high school, she began her career at the Kingsport Press. During her career at the Press, she became the Purchasing Manager. Vendors far and wide feared the wrath of negotiating price with Doris. She enjoyed her career at the Press for over 40 years, retiring in 2002 at the age of 71. In 1952, she married the love of her life, Paul Eldon Carter. Together they have two sons, Mark and Mitch Carter. Doris lived her faith by practicing daily her favorite bible verse; Ephesians 4:32- "Be kind to one another, tender hearted forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Family and the University of Tennessee sports were her love and joy. Doris loved going on vacations with her family to Ormond Beach, Florida. She was an avid University of Tennessee fan. Doris never missed a UT football game. She once told an Alabama fan that everyone in the world knows the words to Rocky Top. As Doris departs this life, her family will always remember her words of wisdom, "In the end, all you have are family and the Tennessee Volunteers."

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Carter; parents, Jeanette and Hinch Gilliam; sisters, Betty Crawford and Jean Martin; and brother, Frosty Gilliam.

Doris is survived by her two sons, Mark Carter and wife, Jane, and Mitch Carter, all of Kingsport; and two sisters, Lou Dorsey and husband Bob, of Kingsport, and Kim Fitzgerald and husband Richard, of Houston, Texas.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. with Pastor Steve Pedersen officiating; and Eulogy by Bob Dorsey.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Those planning on attending the graveside service are asked to meet at Hamlett-Dobson on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. to go in procession.

Pallbearers will be friends and family.

In the last years of Doris's life, she battled dimentia. The family has been blessed with loving caregivers and we wish to thank Dorothy Cox, Hilliary Jackson, Lyssa Cofter, Amanda Bowlin, Tammy Carberry, Jozey Harper, and Amy Dickey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116.

Cemetery Details