Doren Roy Dover

 Doren Roy Dover, age 81, passed away on December 25, 2021. He was born in Kirksville, Missouri on May 7, 1940 to Dwight Russell Dover and Delora Ruth (Colyer) Dover. He married his wife of 63 years, R. LaVerne Gearhart, on June 22, 1958.

     After being raised in Kirksville, Doren and LaVerne decided it was too cold there. They lived a short while in southern California but decided that was too hot.  After moving to south Texas in 1970, they found it to be just right.

     Doren was a maintenance man at A & I University, in Kingsville, TX, and then head maintenance man for Holiday Inn, in Corpus Christi, TX, for a short period of time.  In 1974, he and LaVerne planted permanent roots in Portland, TX and established and ran their combined beauty/barber shop (LaDorn Beauty Shop) until they both retired, in 1990. While running the shop, they also started building their real estate investments. Through the years, even after closing the shop, through long hours, hard work, sweat, and frugal habits, they built and ran their investments which included rental properties and self-storage locations throughout Portland and Gregory, Texas.

     Being in a room with Doren was like sitting in a 1950’s barber shop. Lively conversation that bounced quickly from topics of personal events, politics, religion, and everything else in between. He never met a stranger, listening and speaking with a limited filter but a maximum of frankness.  And whether he just had a pointed conversation about politics, or a discussion about his condition with his doctor, he usually ended the discussion by telling a joke and ending with a laugh. He loved to tell jokes and would tell them to complete strangers everywhere he went. 

     With his wife and other family, Doren traveled the world over the years, seeing central America, Europe, the Holy lands, Russia, and more, the Holy Lands being his favorite. While watching the evening news, when a story would come on with video of some event occurring somewhere in the world, he could usually say, “I’ve been there!”

     Doren always spoke up, worked hard, provided well, and traveled far. Towards the end, he moved a little slower, but with the same determination. He is loved and will be missed.  

     Doren is preceded in death by his parents, Dwight and Delora Dover, his brother, Doyle Ray Dover, and his daughter, Darsha Rena Cessac.  He is survived by his wife, LaVerne, his daughters, Darla Ree (Buddy) Murphy and Denisha Rayann Dover, grandchildren, Thomas Lance Murphy, Danica Renea Cessac and Dalyn Jay Cessac, and his great-grandchildren, Katy Lynn Murphy, Travis Fox Murphy and Autumn Renea Parrish.

Visitation is at 10:00 am and Funeral Services are at 11:30 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at Seaside Funeral Home, 4357 Ocean Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas, with Entombment to follow.

   Having the distinguished honor to serve as pallbearers are Henry T. (Buddy) Murphy, Jr., Stephen Jay Cessac, T. Lance Murphy, Dalyn Jay Cessac, T. Fox Murphy, and Pablo Sarabia.

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