Doris Jean McElwee, 72, formerly of Denison, Texas, passed away Friday, November 9, 2018 at her home in Reno, Texas.  Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home was in charge of cremation arrangements.  Celebration of Life will be held in the chapel at Fairview Cemetery in Denison, Texas, Saturday, January 26, 2018 at noon.
Doris was born and raised in Borger, Texas, daughter of J.P. and Eula Reynolds Graves.
She moved with her parents, around the age of 9, to the California bay area, settling in San Jose, California. She attended Andrew Hill High School in San Jose, California.
She married in 1963.  She and her ex-husband, Leroy Milam, had 4 children.  Moving back to Texas in 1980, she was a unit secretary for Texoma Medical center for over 20 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Richard Graves of Claude, Texas; Jerry Graves of Colbert, Oklahoma; and sister, Glenda Graves of Denison, Texas.
She is survived by her children, Dennis "D.J." Milam and wife, Patricia, of Reno, Texas; Debbie Hartman and husband, Joseph, of Cedar Park, Texas; Jeff Milam of Sherman, Texas; and Vickie Ayres of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Dara Campbell and husband, Eric; Kim Maynard and husband, John Robert; Christina Nicholson and husband, Chris; John Burris and wife, Melissa; Keylan Milam and Melanie Ayres; and great-grandchildren, Jessica, Jacob, Braycen, Makena, Erika, Presley, Tori, Liam, Merrick and Kaylee; brother, Jack Graves of Black Mountain, North Carolina; and sister, Patsy Chambless of Denison, Texas; Home Care Provider and special friend, Jana Parson, who took care of Doris with her basic and health needs during her time that she was not able to do for herself.
Doris was a staple in her family, teaching her children at a young age that family was always first and never wavered from that.  She taught her children that no matter what happened in life that your family will always be there to support you when you are doing well and pick you up during the hard times.  During her life she was kind to everyone she met and was able to make a lasting impression on those who had a chance to get to know her.  Her children took those values she instilled in them and passed those same morals to their children, which delighted Doris more than her words could express.  Even during the hard times towards the end, she was more worried about any burdens placed upon her family but with those strong ideals set early on her children always looked to support her and be there when she needed them.  She left a lifetime of memories that can be smiled over and retold time and time again along with a strong sense of family and love that words can barely describe.  Her legacy will always be one of Family First and being kind to the people that come into your life because they are there for a reason.  Local arrangements were under the direction of Johnson-Moore
Funeral Home.