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201 West Lampkin St.,
STARKVILLE, MS 39759
Phone: (662) 323-5905
201 West Lampkin St.
STARKVILLE, MS 39759
Phone: (662) 323-5905
201 West Lampkin St.
STARKVILLE, MS 39759
Phone: (662) 323-5905
201 West Lampkin St.
STARKVILLE, MS 39759
Phone: (662) 323-5905
201 West Lampkin St.
STARKVILLE, MS 39759
Phone: (662) 323-5905
Doris Johns Wise
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Welch Funeral Homes
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Obituary for Doris Mae Johns Wise

Doris Mae  Johns Wise
Obituary / Doris Mae Johns Wise

Doris Mae Johns Wise left her apartment at the Waterford in Ridgeland Mississippi on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, and joined her husband, Louis N. Wise, in heaven where they are happily surrounded by her beloved dogs. Doris was born July 23, 1923, the only child of Henry and Louise (Andreas) Johns of La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Raised in a strict and sheltered, but loving, German home and community, she began correspondence with a young Army Air Corps pilot, Louis Wise of Lena Station, Louisiana. Several years of letters strained the military postal system until the young couple met and almost immediately married on November 15, 1944.
After military service the couple moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Louis received a Master’s degree in Agronomy while Doris busied herself with learning about the South, mules, grits and motherhood. Their first child, Michael Louis was born in Baton Rouge in 1947 and soon the young family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where Louis obtained a Ph.D. at Purdue University and Doris obtained a Ph.T (Putting hubby Through).
When Louis accepted a professorship at Mississippi State College in 1950, the family moved to Starkville, beginning a love affair with the state, city and university that never died. Their second child, Richard William, was born in Starkville in 1951, making the family whole.
Doris was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Starkville and a stalwart in its choir. She was a member of various clubs and activity groups in Starkville and on the campus of Mississippi State University where the couple became known for their leadership and generosity. Perhaps best known for her hospitality, several generations of foreign and domestic MSU students slept, ate, partied and recovered from parties under her welcoming roof, warmed by her motherly love and pecan pies.
Granny D was blessed with eight grandchildren: Michael Christian Wise (deceased 1987); Jonbob Wise of Greenwood, Mississippi; Nathan and Walker Wise of Humboldt County, California; Neal Carter Wise (Marion) and Harper Wise Jones (David) of Jackson, Mississippi and Rodrigo Samayoa of El Salvador and Marcela (Samayoa) Chazaro of Queretaro, Mexico. Several of these and many of their university student friends availed themselves of Granny D’s home in Starkville, 24 hour laundry service and pre-Uber transportation. It is their loss that her great-grandchildren (Ellis Wise, Mabery Wise, Causey and Turner Jones, Gabriela and Rodrigo Samayoa and Andrea and Alexia Chazaro) will not have Granny D to guide them as they grow through their university years.
As a testament to her love and openness, Doris will be particularly missed by her two daughters-in-law, Mercedes Llort Wise and Robin Smith Wise. In her they found a mother and friend who was infinitely grateful to both of these women for taking her sons off her hands.
Doris left many friends in both Starkville and Waterford Retirement Community in Ridgeland, Mississippi where she lived after Louis’ death in 1990. In both communities she was an active bridge player, community walker and dog lover. She was particularly proud and delighted by the birds and squirrels she fed outside her window.
Mother may have summed up her life best in some instructions left to her sons where she wrote, “I want to be remembered as a happy person and very grateful to my Lord for the wonderful life I had. I tried to be a good daughter, a good wife, a good mother, good friend and a good Christian and always asked my Lord to help me be so.”
The family appreciates the wonderful care given Doris as she slipped away from us by the doctors and staff of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. We especially appreciate the love, kindness and laughter shared with Mom by her caregiver, Mrs. Vicky Woodberry who more than cared for her during the last five years. Vicky has our eternal appreciation.
Welch Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 307 University Drive, Starkville Mississippi on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at 1:00 p.m., with visitation following at the Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Doris and Louis Wise Endowed Fund, MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762.
Thank you, Momma, for so many things: songs and ukuleles, fun and games, humor and assurances, dogs and cats and birds and rabbits and even an alligator! We miss you.

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(662) 323-5905 | 201 West Lampkin St. | STARKVILLE, MS 39759 | Fax: (662) 323-5907 | Email: ninawelch45@gmail.com (662) 323-5905 | 201 West Lampkin St. | STARKVILLE, MS 39759 | Fax: (662) 323-5907 | Email: ninawelch45@gmail.com (662) 323-5905 | 201 West Lampkin St. | STARKVILLE, MS 39759 | Fax: (662) 323-5907 | Email: ninawelch45@gmail.com (662) 323-5905 | 201 West Lampkin St. | STARKVILLE, MS 39759 | Fax: (662) 323-5907 | Email: ninawelch45@gmail.com (662) 323-5905 | 201 West Lampkin St. | STARKVILLE, MS 39759 | Fax: (662) 323-5907 | Email: ninawelch45@gmail.com