September 3, 1930 – April 13, 2026

Doris Elaine McPherron Cody, born September 3, 1930, in Augusta, Kansas to Verner Young McPherron and Laura Mae Bledsoe McPherron. Doris was the eldest of three children. Doris peacefully passed into the arms of Jesus on April 13, 2026. She lived a full and joy-filled 95 years. She was fondly known as “Duke” by family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Verner & Laura McPherron, brothers Vernon Eugene McPherron, Richard Lynn McPherron, husband Philip Michael Cody, stepchildren Timothy Cody and Marion Kathleen Cody Ward. She is survived by daughters, Teri Blevins & Jan Clifton (Walter). Grandchildren, Brandy Blevins, Mark Blevins, Jr. (Amy). Great Grandchildren, Taryn “Danny” Blevins (Katie) and Abigayle Blevins. Honorary Granddaughter, Kelly Blevins Wheeler (Kevin) and Honorary great grandchildren Clayton Wheeler and Addilyn Wheeler. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was raised in a multi-generational household, her Mom cared for her paternal grandparents until their passing. If Doris could have had her way, her entire family would have lived under one roof all at the same time. She loved her family fiercely & passionately. As a teenager, Doris enjoyed being with her cousin, spending many hours at the skating rink and movie theatre, where they both were usherettes. Doris was a Rainbow girl, girl scout and taught Sunday school at her church and volunteered at Vacation Bible School.

When her family relocated to New Orleans, she met Robert “Whitey” Zatarain, marrying April 9, 1953. Doris and Whitey had 2 daughters, Teri Zatarain Blevins and Jan Lei Clifton. When Jan was 9 months old the marriage ended. Doris, her two girls and her mother relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, where she began her career as an Executive Secretary to the Engineering Manager and a team of 30 engineers with the Boeing Company. In 1967 Doris transferred to Houston with Boeing, on her arrival she began checking out the school districts in the area, settling on Alvin, making Alvin their family home. May 1, 1971, she married her friend and former co-worker Philip Cody. Doris had the opportunity to transfer to Seattle, WA with Boeing but opted to remain in Alvin. She went to work for Wellborn, Britt & Brown, a local law firm, working as a legal secretary until her retirement in 1997. Upon retiring from the law firm, she began a daycare in her home, which she ran until 2002 when she broke her hip.

Doris bowled for many years, sometimes 2 or 3 leagues a week, serving as league secretary. She served as Association President for 12 years. She enjoyed playing pinochle, traveling to state, national & grandmas bowling tournaments, walking the beach collecting sand dollars, riding the Bolivar Ferry, crabbing, doing the daily crossword (only from the newspaper-no puzzle book for her), playing her game pad, watching her grandkids’ sporting events (she was their most avid supporter). She followed the Astros win or lose.

Doris was a member of the Friendship class at Alvin Methodist Church and enjoyed the friends she made in that class. She volunteered at the church, making calls to shut ins, working in the kitchen during VBS, working in the baby nursery on Sunday morning and helping with Wednesday Kids Club. She was a Hasse Helper during lunchtime to help the kiddos open milk, water, etc. until 2020 when Covid came and the school shut down. During her time at Hasse she was Gramma to everyone and she loved it.

Our family thanks Harmony Care & Amedisys Hospice for the care they provided for our Mom. Doris never met a stranger; her door was always open & everyone was welcome in her home.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family on May 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM. A Celebration of Life will follow at 2:00 PM at Alvin Methodist Church 611 W. South St., Alvin, TX 77511.