Boggs, Doris' Obituary
Doris Lyon Boggs
November 14, 1933 to July 6, 2025
Proverbs 31:28 “And her children arise up and call her blessed.”
Born in the small tourist town of Ludington, Michigan, Doris Lyon Boggs was born to farmer/grocer/painter and landlord Morris Lyon and his wife Elida on November 14, 1933. Predeceased by her parents and her only sibling Muriel Lyon Johnson, Doris was more recently predeceased by daughter Elizabeth Boggs Garvin (d. 2019) and husband Frank Ivy Boggs (d. 2021).
Doris brought much joy to her family and spent her latter days near the ones who remain. They are daughter Catherine Boggs Hoecke and son-in-love Wilfried Carl (“WC”) of Columbia, SC, and grandchildren: Joshua Garvin in the Horn of Africa, Karl Hoecke of Columbia, SC, Franklin Hoecke (Emily) of South Asia and Anna Hoecke of Columbia, SC. Great grandchildren include Mercy and Eden Hoecke. Also surviving are her son-in-love James Garvin (Martha) of Canton, GA and nieces Lynn Johnson Holowasko (Scott) and Megan Marie Johnson of Florida and their families. Whether they called her Mimi or Mom, her family will remember Doris most for her beauty, inside and out.
In 4th grade, Doris became a part of the Ludington High School orchestra, playing violin, and then the High School band, playing clarinet. She became Ludington High’s first chair violinist by the time she reached Jr. High. Her instrument acumen earned her a music scholarship to Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. The violin also assisted in her achieving Runner Up to Miss Michigan in the Miss America pageant circuit.
At Stetson, Doris was led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, thanks to the witness of her college friend Bettye Jean with whom she remained in touch. With a Bachelors in Education in Music and Physical Education, Doris was hired to direct Physical Education at a local YMCA in Daytona, Florida. While there, she was “discovered” by her soon-to-be husband Frank Boggs at a Baptist Student Ministry camp which they both attended. His first impression of her was that she “asked intelligent questions” in a seminar he was leading. Frank would say, “I knew that day I wanted to marry her, but I waited.” An unexpected friendship ensued, nurtured through letters back and forth for a few months.
They were engaged to be married soon thereafter. Doris would always tell of her initial reluctance to marry Frank, yet she’d say, “The Lord told me to marry Frank.” They married in 1957 in Tallahassee, where Frank was the Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church. Three months later, they honeymooned in Europe. Doris and Frank’s home quickly became and remained a hub of relationship-building and ministry; something that continued their whole life together. They ministered and hosted Frank’s four choirs at the time, including FBC Tallahassee’s college, elementary and adult members. Doris remembers washing a lot of dishes back then.
In 1959, their firstborn Elizabeth came. A few months later, Doris remembers taking baby Elizabeth in a basket in the front seat of their vehicle to move the family to Atlanta, Georgia. In 1961, Catherine was born, and Doris remained a stay-at-home Mom for many years.
Doris always found ministry opportunities in their church when her kids were young. She invested many hours of preparation into the church children's spiritual formation, leading on Sunday and Wednesday in music, scripture, lessons and fun. Doris was instrumental in bringing the Child Evangelism Fellowship curriculum to the children’s ministries of both Northside Baptist Church in Atlanta and to Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta in those years. This passion grew from her own experience as a child: in church, yet never hearing a clear Gospel message.
During the early Atlanta years, Doris and Frank felt called to minister and reach out to internationals in Atlanta. They spent much time helping house these friends or helping navigate American culture and life. Many of their international guests came to trust Christ. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Doris and Frank were privileged to be a part of God’s work in the Jesus Movement with others like Andre Crouch and John Fisher.
Doris and Frank became instrumental in hosting leaders and in co-ministering with these leaders; from Campus Crusade for Christ, Young Life, Christian Businessmens Association, to Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Intervarsity. Doris and Frank witnessed the landscape and spirit of the city of Atlanta change as more and more came to Christ. “Everyone was shouting, ‘Hallelujah’,” Doris commented. Amid all this glorious harvest, Billy Graham and other groups and churches came out to help in the discipling process by sponsoring large gatherings. This led to more global ministry for Frank and Doris with such ministries as Moody, L’Abri, Torchbearers and Lausanne.
In the middle of all this, Doris became a friend of Kay Arthur and her Bible studies/ministry. Every week, Doris attended Kay’s first Atlanta Bible Study in Mrs. Grace Kinser’s home to hear Kay teach using the inductive Bible Study method. She soon became a Precept leader as well. This gave Doris renewed passion for God’s Word and forever transformed Doris’ faith walk. Daughters Catherine and Elizabeth gained a keen desire to study the Word of God and to share their faith from the example of their mother Doris. For this we are forever grateful.
During Frank’s time at Westminster Schools (estimated at 23 years), Doris was chief costume designer for Frank’s production casts. She also created most of the costumes or holiday dresses for her girls. She made most of the clothes that her daughters wore, until they left for college. While her girls were in High School, Doris became a manager in an international Aloe Vera health and beauty company. Doris believed so firmly in Aloe’s healing properties, she joked that, in the foyer, we should give tubes of Aloe Gel and Cream out to those attending her memorial service (Doris and Catherine laughed a long time about this idea.).
Doris remained in the business part time till she and Frank officially retired. And moved to Lenbrook in Buckhead (2010). She enjoyed singing alto in Frank’s Georgia Festival Chorus, keeping up with her grandkids and eventually moving to Columbia, South Carolina in 2021, after Frank’s death, to be closer to the family. She loved the beauty of South Carolina and often commented on how much less traffic Columbia boasted, compared to Atlanta. While in Columbia, she once again made First Baptist Atlanta her “church home”, watching the broadcast online each Sunday, along with her Sunday caregiver.
Doris’ mission to share the gospel and spread a love for God’s Word never diminished as was evident in the relationships she had, even until her Homegoing. It brings her family much joy to think of her around the throne asking all her questions and relishing time in her Savior’s presence. Doris will be remembered for her love of the Gospel of Christ and for her desire to engender a love for the Word of God. Her family will miss her dearly. (Note: her daughter insisted she write this with Doris’ help a year before her death.)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be give to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Please join her family for the celebration of Doris’ life at one of the following:
Graveside Short Service and Burial, FRI, July 18, 10:00 am in Texas: Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243
Visitation and Light Supper Fellowship, MON, July 21, 4:30 pm in South Carolina: Riverbend Church, 1015 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, SC 29072
Memorial Service and Light Supper Fellowship, MON, July 28, 4:30 pm in Atlanta: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1438 Sheridan Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to support local workers pioneering in the spread of the Good News in the Horn of Africa (her grandson is a leader in this effort). Find many different avenues to make a donation at
https://www.commissioncoaching.org/horn-ministry-prayer-house.html. (Or donate to Precept or your local Child Evangelism Fellowship ministry.)
What’s your fondest memory of Doris?
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Share a story where Doris' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Doris you’ll never forget.
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