Doris Jean Horner

Doris Jean Horner

10/11/1929 – 8/21/2026

Doris Jean was born in Kirwin, Kansas to Marion and Emma Gaines on October 11,1929. She had one brother, Donald Dean and one sister, Bonnie, who proceeded her in death.

She attended school for 12 years in Phillipsburg, Kansas and graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1947.

Doris married Harold W. Horner on Valentine’s Day 1949 at the age of 19. They were married in a small ceremony at her parent’s home, by their pastor. They were married 46 years when Harold passed away in June 1995.

Doris and Harold had five children, Gary, Gayle, Cindy, Jan, and Sheryl. She is survived by all 71 of her children and spouses, grandchildren and spouses, great grandchildren and spouses as well as her great-great grandchildren.

She started her employment in high school, working at the local drug store. She and Harold moved all over the country with his job for several years. After moving to Farmington, NM in 1958, she did secretarial work for a credit bureau, finance company, and insurance company. The majority of her adult life was spent as a homemaker and mother.

During their first nine years of marriage, Harold’s job with The Refinery Engineering Company continually transferred him, resulting in their moving 10 times from Philipsburg, KS to Salina, KS then back to Phillipsburg, KS, to Fort Worth, TX to Commanche, OK to Wynnewood, OK to Joliet, IL to Centralia, IL to McPherson, KS and Tulsa, OK. In 1958, Harold was offered a job in Farmington, NM. Not knowing anything about that part of the country, he accepted the job because that area did not have tornados! Unfortunately, there was no place to live in Farmington, so Harold went ahead of the family. Doris and their 4 small children rode the train from Tulsa, OK to Manhattan, KS to visit family and then to Albuquerque, NM. In 1959 Harold’s job wanted to transfer him again, but he decided his family had already moved too much. Since the two older children were now in school, they settled in Farmington. Doris and Harold lived in Farmington from 1958 to 1989 when they moved to Sun Lakes, AZ part time to get away from the cold. In 1994 they moved to Sun Lakes permanently. In 2008, Doris moved to Friendship Village in Tempe AZ. In her last year, Doris would say, “I lived in my first house in Farmington for 18 years. I lived in my second house in Farmington for 18 years. I lived in Sun Lakes for 18 years and now I’ve been at Friendship Village for 18 years. It is time for me to make my final move to Heaven.”

Doris grew up going to church and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 8 during a revival at her church. She and Harold made it a priority to get involved in a local

church wherever they moved to. She was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Farmington for over 30 years and has been an active member of First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes for over 30 years.

In addition to being a mighty prayer warrior, over the years she taught Sunday School, served on the Missions Committee, Pastor Search Committee, Intercessory Prayer group, and delivered DVDs to the church members who could no longer attend church. While in her 70s, she went on a mission trip to South Africa, visited a granddaughter in Romania, walked the great wall of China, and volunteered at the local crisis pregnancy center. In her 90s she continued blessing the children in Africa by sewing dresses for girls and shorts for boys.

Doris loved the Lord and lived a Christ-centered life. She believed in living by example. She will always be remembered for the way she loved and cared for people. If you were her family, church member, or just a friend, you probably received more than one birthday, anniversary, or Christmas card each year. She was even known for sending Thank You cards for the Thank You cards she had received.

Doris was a living example of the Proverbs 31 woman. She was a wife of noble character, worth far more than rubies. She worked eagerly with her hands and extended her hands to the needy. She was clothed in strength and dignity. Her children arise and call her blessed; and her husband also praised her. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21

Celebration of Life

Saturday, September 12, 2026, 2:00pm

First Baptist Church Sun Lakes

9535 E Riggs Rd

Sun Lakes, AZ 85248