Doris Karriker Tanner Beaver

Doris Karriker Tanner Beaver, 86, who loved to be called Mom, Grandma and Gigi, was called to her heavenly home on the 24th day of September 2023. Born May 15th, 1937, Doris was the middle child of Sam and Ethel Karriker. She grew up with her older brother, Paul Karriker who preceded her in death and her baby sister, Mary Karriker Cody. She graduated from China Grove High School in 1955 where she played basketball, no small feet for a player who stood just over 5 feet tall. After graduation she went to work as a secretary for a law firm. She later worked in the Business Office of Rowan Memorial Hospital where she helped people process their insurance claims. The job she was most proud of was the home-based daycare she ran for 6 years. She loved to tell the story of the summer she kept 22 children, ages 1-11. The care she gave was a true product of her affection for each and every one of them. Even as dementia ravaged her mind, her love and playfulness with children remained. She loved measuring Gatlin, her oldest great-grandchild and talking about how much taller he was than her. She “hosted” tea parties with Luke and even though at the end, when she did not know many of her family members, she was always delighted when “the baby” as she lovingly called Maddie, came to her room at Liberty Commons. Doris gave her life to Christ at an early age and joined Pilgrim Holiness Church of Salisbury shortly before the birth of her first child. She would go on to raise her children in that church as a Sunday School Teacher, CYC director, Choir member and served on the church council as treasurer. After her second marriage, she became a member of Crown Point Baptist Church where she continued singing in the choir, was president of Crown Jewels, the church’s senior group and taught the Warriors class, a Sunday School class for special needs young men which included her son, David. In her later years, when she could no longer get to church, she loved reading her bible and many devotional books as well as listening to the preaching of Charles Stanley. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, son, William Edward “Eddie” Tanner Jr. and second husband, Max Beaver. Those left to cherish her loving memories are her daughter, Darlene Murphy and her favorite (and as they always joked, ONLY) son-in-law, Tom; her special son, David Tanner; grandson, Parker Murphy and wife Jodi; granddaughter, Rebecca Bradley and husband Richard; great-grandchildren, Gatlin and Luke Murphy and Madalyn Bradley; her sister, Mary and brother-in-law James Cody. The family would like to thank Kevin and the staff of Oak Park Retirement Village and Heaven Sent nurses, Dana and Ann for their care and willingness to help Ms. Doris navigate the early stages of dementia during her time there. A special heartfelt thanks is also extended to the staff and Hospice Team at Liberty Commons who made Doris’s final days more comfortable and her passing easier on her family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, October 1st at Summersett Memorial Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2-3 with service at 3 PM conducted by special friend Rev. Martha Richardson. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Beaver family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Doris Karriker Tanner Beaver

May 15, 1937 - September 24, 2023