Nancy Jean (Powell) Doran, 85, of Savannah, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 22, at West Tennessee Healthcare in Jackson, Tennessee. She was born on May 17, 1937, the daughter of the late George Franklin Powell Sr. and Nell Powell.
Mrs. Doran was a loving wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed reading, gardening, lunching with her classmates from high school, shopping trips with the “Golden Girls”, meeting with her Women’s Faith Bible Study Group and spending time with her family.
She shared 56 years of her 85 year life with her beloved husband, Gene Doran, who predeceased her in 2013. Together they raised four children, Angie Pitts (Barney) and Cindy Matlock (Ronny) of Savannah; Denise Chaffee (Danny) of Hollytree, Alabama and Jeff Doran (Sonny Blanton) of Tallahassee, Florida. She was proud of her fourteen grandchildren, Matt (Rae-Anne) Pitts and Corey Pitts; Ashley (Derek) Crotts, Ryan Matlock (Dempsey) and Austin Matlock, Will, Sam (Rachel), Zak, Jake, Nate, Anna, Shelby, Carlee and Bo Doran; and their mother, Sherry; and four great-grandchildren, Lauren and Abigail Copeland; Winnie Pitts and Rylan Matlock. She also leaves behind her dear sister, Patsy Few (John) of Bells, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews. Gail Smith Hardy, her niece, held a special place in her heart.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, George Franklin Powell Jr.
In addition to raising and caring for her four children, she worked for the Hardin County Board of Education for 40 years as a secretary/bookkeeper at Nixon Elementary School, and was employed with Doran Furniture and Appliance for seven years. She was a member of Wesley’s Chapel United Methodist Church where she enjoyed her senior group and often served local ministries, including the Hardin County CAM Food Pantry.
A celebration of her life was held on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Shackelford Funeral Home in Savannah.
She will be laid to rest beside her late husband in the Doran Home Place Cemetery on the family farm where she had lived most of her adult life.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center at hardinmedicalcenter.org or Gideon Bibles at apps.gideons.org.