D. J. "Doty" Harris' Obituary
The only child of Floyd Blair and Lora Catherine Mary Regina Hornick Van Horn, Dorothy Jane Van Horn (officially “D. J.” since 1979, unofficially “Doty” since college days) was born July 30, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her grandparents (Peter and Magdalena Schroeffel Hornick) lived. She died peacefully at her home in Longview, Texas, on January 28, 2019.
Raised in the “oil patch,” she began school in El Dorado, Arkansas, then moved in the late 1930’s with her parents to the Darrow Humble Oil Camp in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Her later teenage years were spent attending Donaldsonville High School, across the Mississippi River from Darrow.
Classical music was very much a part of her youth. Piano and the violin were her instruments of choice. At age 13, she performed as a guest soloist with The Shreveport Symphony. Pursuing a musical career following high school, she attended LSU for one year before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin. After graduating with a degree in music, she played the viola for one season with the Houston Symphony. She enjoyed playing in The Longview Symphony until 1989.
She married Jack Harris--whom she met at Darrow--on April 26, 1946, in Natchez, Mississippi, where her parents had moved. Jack’s schooling, then occupations, carried her to Canyon, Texas, Conroe, Texas, all over Louisiana, Tatum, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Longview (1969-1975; 1984-2019).
In 1970, she took a nursing course to become an LVN, working in the nursing field for 20 years; she said that was the most rewarding of her careers, though volunteering (Longview Public Library for 25 years and the music library at The First Methodist Church of Longview) was a close second.
Together, she and Jack raised three children: Laura Rae (Larre) and husband Jerry White; Van (Caffie) Harris--both of Tatum, Texas; and Tyler Harris of Elgin, Texas—all surviving. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home in Longview from 6pm-8pm Friday, February 1, 2019 with funeral services the following day, Saturday, February 2, 2019 in the chapel of Rader funeral home starting at 2pm with interment to follow at Rosewood Park.
What’s your fondest memory of D. J.?
What’s a lesson you learned from D. J.?
Share a story where D. J.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with D. J. you’ll never forget.
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