Doris Randle Dean, born February 21, 1932, passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2019, two days shy of her 87th birthday at Athens-Limestone Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Dixon Ross and Marvin O. Randle of Killen; her sister, Betty Jo Thornburgh of Marietta, GA; and her husband of 63 years, Thomas “Tom” Arlin Dean.

Survivors include her four children Tom Arlin Dean Jr., Mary Kay Crawford (Danny), Phillip Dean, and Jennifer Bunnell (Charles). She was grandmother to Leslie Howard (Michael), Ashley Jones (Dave), Matthew Crawford, Darcy Mosley (Joe), Lara Dean, Bryan Dean (fiancée Morgan Todd), Dean Bunnell, and Mary Arlin Bunnell. She was great-grandmother to Garrett Howard, Elijah Jones, and Lelia Mosley. The family would like to thank David Anderson for his many years of service and Lisa Comfort for her help and kindness to their mother.

Doris graduated from Coffee High School in 1950 and attended Florence State University. She married Tom on August 4, 1951 and they moved to Athens in 1960. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who enjoyed community service and gardening/flowers. Doris was an active member of First United Methodist Church where she served on various committees including her beloved Altar Committee Chairperson (for 25+ years), United Methodist Women, Tuesday Morning Circle, needle point cushion committee, and hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Her other interests included Athens Study Club, Athens-Limestone Library Foundation Board, Friends of the Library, Donnell House Board and Festival of the Trees, Three Arts Club, Athena League charter member, Athens City Schools Foundation Board, Limestone County Historical Society, delivering meals on wheels, and keeping her mind sharp by participating in two bridge clubs. Doris and Tom enjoyed many years of frequent travel with close friends to cheer on the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football and basketball teams.

The memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 24, at Athens First United Methodist Church with Kenny Baskins officiating. Spry Funeral Home is assisting the family. There will be a reception celebrating Doris’s life immediately following the service in the Beasley Center.

In keeping with Doris’s charitable nature, please consider a donation to the community food bank, LCCI, instead of food to her family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First United Methodist Church, the Bickley Dean Walker Watkins University of Alabama Alumni Scholarship Fund, the Donnell House, or a charity of your choice.

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