Doris Lanell Hunt Horner Cope was the eldest child of Lawrence and Ella Mae Hunt, born January 17, 1933, in Brown County, Texas. She passed away on March 2, 2023, at the age of 90. Visitation with the family is scheduled Sunday, March 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Mason Funeral Home and a celebration of her life will be Monday March 6 at 1:00 at the Mason Church of Christ followed by burial at Gooch Cemetery.

Doris graduated from Early High School in 1951. Following the Korean war, she married her soldier pen pal, Omar Bryan (OB) Horner Jr., and they had three children: Bryan, Kenny and Steve Horner. OB was lost in a tragic accident and she was later set up with widower, Merle Cope. She and Merle were joined in marriage by brother-in-law and lifelong friend, Gene Polvado in 1971. The newlyweds joined their two families and she gained two more children, LeAnn and Robert Cope. Merle and Doris made their home in northeastern Mason County, and she again bore another son, Michael Cope.

The country had been struggling with a shortage of teachers, and she went back to school completing her BA from Howard Payne University in 1971. She started her teaching career late in life at the age of 44 and taught 21 years at Mason Elementary retiring at the age of 65. However, Doris never retired from teaching children and spent her life serving and teaching her six children and fifteen grandchildren. Do note, Grandma School had a much lighter curriculum than what the State of Texas demanded and was full of reading, doing puzzles, swimming, naps, walks picking wildflowers, and eating lots of ice cream.

Doris was a faithful sister in Christ and spent her life serving the members of the church of Christ teaching children's Bible classes for most of her adult life. Doris is survived by husband, Merle of 51 years, sister Nancy Polvado and husband Gene, brother Jack Hunt and wife Carolyn, six children Bryan Horner (Beth), Kenny Horner (Kathy), Steve Horner (Liz), LeAnn Fleming (Johnny), Robert Cope (Kelli), and Michael Cope (Leslie). 15 grandchildren Beau Horner (Tash), Hayley Rodgers (Adam) Brady Horner (Briana), Kassi Horner, Kammi Green (Warren), Karri Vargas (Michael), Kolby Horner (Katelyn), Josh Horner (Rhonda), Brittney Knowles (Nick), Colt Fleming, Lex Fleming (Katie), Jessi Cope, Jody Cope, Alexandra Cope and Eliza Cope and 24 great grandchildren. She had great passion for God and family and lovingly served as the matriarch of a very large family. Her legacy lives on.