Doris Jenkins

Doris Laverne Rowlett Jenkins, 91, passed away Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, where she was recuperating from a heart attack. She was born March 4, 1922, in Houston, Texas, and died November 17, 2013, in Baton Rouge. She was a loving mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and friend to many. She is survived by her son, former Rep. Louis E. Woody Jenkins, Jr. and his wife Diane Aker Jenkins grandchildren Margaret Jenkins Savoye and her husband Darren of Jefferson, LA Elizabeth Ann Jenkins of Denver, CO David Aker Jenkins of Baton Rouge, and Catherine Ann Jenkins of Baton Rouge greatgrandchildren Gabrielle, Louis Joseph, and James Sawyer Savoye of Jefferson, LA and nephews and nieces Gordon and Jan Jenkins Edward, Randall, and Mark Rowlett, and Anita Rowlett Hopkins. She was preceded in death by her parents Frederick Putnam Rowlett and Beatrice Eernisse Rowlett of Alvin, Texas her brother, Walter Rowlett, of Houston and her husband, Louis E. Ory Jenkins, Sr., of Baton Rouge. Doris grew up in Alvin and Shreveport. She attended Byrd High School and graduated from Alvin High School in 1940. During World War II, she met a handsome sailor who was recovering from war injuries at the Galveston Naval Hospital. They fell in love and married in 1946. They resided in Ponchatoula where they owned a restaurant, Little Orys Den, before moving to Houston and then Baton Rouge. Ory was an operator at Ethyl Corporation, and Doris worked in safety deposit at American Bank on Plank Road. She retired from the bank in 1982 after 25 years service. She was affectionately known as G by her grandchildren and their friends at Parkview. As a child, she had red hair and was known by the nickname Pinky. She loved to wear a red hat and a red cap, which was perfect when she played Mrs. Santa Claus for children in her later years. She has written an autobiography, which will be published online in the spring of 2014 by Community Press. It is a humorous collection of her writings from the 1920s to the present. She has lived with her son Woody and daughter in law Diane for the past 27 years, and they cared for her during the many health problems she has endured for the past 15 years. Despite those, she maintained a clear mind and humorous wit until this weekend. She was recovering from a heart attack and doing well Saturday, but her condition declined early Sunday, and she passed away. Friends and acquaintances are invited to visitation Tuesday from 68 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home and again Wednesday at 10 a.m. Services will be held by Lt. Aaron Maguffee, Chaplain, USN, at 11 a.m. at Resthaven.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
6 pm8 pm

Service

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
10 am11 am

Funeral Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
11 am

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816