Doris Osborn
August 22, 1934 — August 25, 2025
Doris Marie (Cathcart) Osborn
A long-time resident of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Doris was born in Topeka, Kansas, on August 22, 1934, the oldest child of Melvin E. and Dorothy (Reamer) Cathcart. She passed away on August 25, 2025, in Blackwell, Oklahoma.
Doris spent her early life in the Topeka area, graduating from Seaman High School in 1952. After high school, she was employed in the district office of Metropolitan Life Insurance in Topeka. A few years later, she attended Central Bible College (now Evangel University) in Springfield, Missouri and graduated with a BA degree.
After working as an editorial assistant at the Gospel Publishing House in Springfield, she decided to make a career change, so she attended Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, earning an MA degree in English and began her teaching career at Neosho County Community College in 1971.
In 1976, she married Ray Gene Osborn, and they moved to Tonkawa, Oklahoma, where she taught English at Northen Oklahoma College for over forty years before retiring in 2019.
Doris was blessed to grow up in a Christian family, and at a young age, she decided to accept Jesus as her Savior and was baptized. Her faith and family have always been important to her. She has attended church regularly throughout her life, volunteering to teach children’s classes, sing in the choir, or play the piano. Throughout her life, she has kept in touch with her six siblings and their families. She devoted much of her adult life in helping to raise three of her step-grandchildren.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her sister and brother-in-law Evelyn and Eugene Herring; sisters-in-law Carolyn Cathcart, Jo Cathcart, and Janice Cathcart; and a nephew Mickey Cathcart.
Surviving are her sister Lavera (Dean) of Cascade, Wisconsin; brothers Charles Cathcart of Prineville, Oregon; John Cathcart of Allen, Kansas; Ronald (Rosanne) Cathcart of Lakeland, Florida; and David (Kathleen) Cathcart of Holton, Kansas; stepchildren Glenna (Gary) Hathaway of Raymore, Missouri; and Danny R. (Linda) Osborn of Earlsboro, Oklahoma; step-grandchildren Jacson (Jamie Smith) of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; Danny C. Osborn of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and Kristie (Chad) Wright of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; several step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and their children.
Doris will be honored with a funeral service at 2p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa, Oklahoma with Pastor Terry Ballard presiding. Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Pallbearers will be Christian Wright, Chris Wright, Craig Wright, Cory Cox, Chris Graham, and Eric Daniel.
Arrangements are under the care of Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City, Oklahoma.
