Doris Elaine Van Benthuysen, 87, Orange

Doris Elaine Van Benthuysen, 87, of Orange, Texas, passed away on April 6, 2023, peacefully at home surround by family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Silver Oaks Baptist Church in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Ed Rawls. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. Visitation will begin prior to the service at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, at Silver Oaks Baptist Church in Orange.

Born in LeCompte, Louisiana, on June 25, 1935, she was the daughter of Clifton E. Austin, Sr. and Willie Mae (Whatley) Austin. Doris was a longtime member of Silver Oaks Baptist Church. She was a wonderful nurse and was one of the first nurses to get to work on the open-heart team in the 1960’s, she helped many patients and their families in her 60 years of working. Doris loved to play softball and she continue to play until she was 48. In high school she took their softball team to state in 1953-1954.

Doris enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys play football. She enjoyed Sunday dinner, but in the fall the Dallas Cowboys were her main focus. Doris was an amazing wife, mother, and Memmie and great-Memmie.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Clifton Austin, Sr.; sister, Billie Jean Tassin; brother, Clifton E. Austin, Jr; and granddaughter, Brittany Sheppard.

She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph W. Van Benthuysen, Jr. since 1957 over 65 years; daughter, Denise Sheppard and husband Ricky of Orangefield; sons, Bill Van Benthuysen of Orangefield, and Russell Van Benthuysen and wife Cathy of Alabama; sister-in-law, Usrsula Marie Shaw and husband William; grandchildren, Christina Shilling, Felicia Haylett and husband Jeremy, Cory Van Benthuysen and wife Jeab, Jesse Kistler and husband Jessie, Scott Sheppard and wife Sarah, Wyntter Nations and husband Micah, and Amy Van Benthuysen; great grandchildren, Kaylee Sheppard, Morgan Sheppard, Addyson Sheppard, Mya Shilling, James Shilling, Dylan Shilling, Keaton Haylett, Eli Haylett, Zackary Haylett, Jada Van Benthuysen, Jaxon Kistler, Jetson Kistler, Arya Nations, and Isaac Nations; as well as numerous other loving family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bill Howt, Douglas Parker, Bryan Sheppard, Scott Sheppard, Vance Green, and Cory Van Benthuysen.

Honorary pallbearers are James Shilling, Dylan Shilling, Isaac Nations, Keaton Haylett, Zachary Haylett, and Eli Haylett.