Mrs. Doris Jean (Birmingham) Lindley

Doris Jean Birmingham Lindley of Navasota went to be with the Lord, Monday, March 3, 2014. Doris was born February 12th 1919, in Huntsville, Texas, the 11th child of Ida Mae Akin and Charles Braxton Birmingham. Her father, Charles “Cap” Birmingham, was a law enforcement officer in Huntsville for more than 25 years. When Doris was 7 years of age, he tragically lost his life in the line of duty while serving as City Marshall. Doris graduated from Huntsville Senior High School in 1936, where she participated in the Green Cadet Corps. In 1938 she married Lewis B. Lindley of Navasota. Together they owned and operated Lindley’s Cleaners for many years. Doris was a dedicated member of The First Presbyterian Church and the Women of the Church. Faith and family were centers of her life, with that love encompassing extended family and a special place in her heart for nieces and nephews. Flowers, nature, and growing plants gave her great joy.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis B. Lindley; grandson, James Phillip Gessner; 6 sisters and 4 brothers: Johnnie Birmingham, Ida Mae Weatherly, Allen Birmingham, Myrtle Wright, Sallie Allphin, Mary Alice Nelson, Ruby Thompson, Irene Paris, C.B. Birmingham, Jr., and James Birmingham; 4 nieces and 4 nephews: Audrey Ann Nelson, Ruby Rank, Shirley May Duncan, Virginia Lindley Ford, Henry Edwin Horlock, Jr., Jack Nelson, James (Pete) Allphin, and Robert Weatherly, Jr.; and 1 great nephew, Christopher Allphin.

Doris is survived by 3 daughters and their families: Carol Jean and Bernard Gessner of Navasota, Myrtle Ann and Bernard Kapella of Wellborn, and Linda Bowden and John Walicek of Elgin; 13 grandchildren and their families: John and Angie Gessner, Jocelyne Gessner and Eddie Bay, Marc Gessner and Marilyn Hassid, Michael Lewis and Donna Gessner, Matthew and Melanie Gessner, Laura Jean Gessner and Keith Mayfield, and Thomas and Johanna Gessner; Melanie Ann Arrington and Buck Rogers, Sarah Kate Kapella and Mark Kelso, and Carol Lynn Kapella; Christopher and Key Kaufman, Don Edward Walicek, and Craig Bowden and Devan Walicek. Other survivors include 21 great grandchildren: Madison Gessner, Nicholas Bay, Tyler Gessner, Dean Gessner, Payne Gessner, James Gessner, Johnathan Gessner, Mackenzie Jean Mayfield, Braxton Alan Mayfield, Lindley Kate Mayfield, Grace Gessner, and Gunnar Gessner; Brian Torres, Morgan Ann Rogers, Miranda Alene Rogers, Scott Rogers, and Zoe Kelso; Lauren Kaufman, Keely Kaufman, Ryan Elise Walicek, and Luke Bowden Walicek; and 1 great-great grandchild, Isaac James Torres.

Pallbearers are grandsons Michael Lewis Gessner, Matthew Gessner, Thomas Gessner, Don Edward Walicek, and Craig Bowden Walicek; and great nephew Wade Birmingham Nelson.
Honorary Pallbearers were Dr. Luke Scamardo and nephews, Leslie Wright, Jr., Charles Fredrick Wright, Roy Paris, Jr., Charles Patrick Allphin, John E. Nelson, Paul Nelson, Henry F. Lindley, Jr., and Roy Mack Horlock.

The family extends a special thanks to Dr. Luke Scamardo, and staff; the Navasota Medical Center; Grimes St. Joseph Hospital; Traditions Hospice; and her special loving caregivers.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M., Friday, March 7th at Nobles Funeral Chapel. Graveside Service at Oakland Cemetery, Navasota will take place Saturday, March 8th at 11:00 A.M. A Memorial Service will follow at 12:00 noon at The First Presbyterian Church, 302 Nolan Street, Navasota. Rev. Barrett Ingram and REv. Henry Sanders will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

Memorials may be made to The First Presbyterian Church or Grimes St. Joseph Hospital of Navasota.