Doris Marie Tavenner Reid

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Doris Marie Tavenner Reid of St. Francisville, Louisiana, who left this earth peacefully on August 10th, 2025, at the age of 80. She passed away surrounded by loved ones in the home and care of her daughter.

Doris Marie was born on November 3rd, 1944, in Washington, District of Columbia, to the late CM3 Mr. Richard Samuel Tavenner and Mrs. Rosalee W. Tavenner. She was a 1963 Highschool Graduate of W.T. Sampson High School at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base-Cuba.

While living in GTMO, Doris met her husband of 62 years, John W. Reid, who was active duty with the US Navy. They married in May of 1963 in Metairie, Louisiana and settled in their first home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They had two children: a daughter, Lisa Anne; a son, Richard Wayne. By 1971, The Reid family moved to Denham Springs, Louisiana.

Doris found great joy and satisfaction in being a stay-at-home mother and a community volunteer. She was a member of the Busy Bee Homemakers Club, President of the Seventh Ward Elementary Booster Club, Girl Scout Cadette Troop 88 Leader and Girl Scout Cookie Chairman of Junior Troop 201. In 1984 The Reids took a position with The Audubon Girl Scout Council and became the Camp Rangers at Camp Marydale until 1998.

She loved working outside in her gardens, tending to the many varieties of exotic plants and flowers. As a devoted fan of the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, she watched as many ball games as she could. She was known for her fierce competitive spirit in all aspects including fishing, Pinochle, and Let it Ride. Her sense of adventure was contagious; she was always ready to-go, after grabbing her purse and lipstick. She greatly enjoyed vacationing with friends and family and cruising to many parts of the world.

To have known Doris was to love her—deeply, effortlessly, and without hesitation. She had an extraordinary gift for making everyone she encountered feel special, as though they were the only person in the room. The word best to describe her to those who did not get the pleasure of knowing her, is genuine. A genuine person, in heart, mind and soul.

Her absence leaves a great emptiness that can never truly be filled; however, her love, laughter, and spirit will live on in the hearts of those who will never forget her. She will always be remembered as the best Bubba around to her family and friends.

Doris was preceded in death by parents Richard Samuel and Rosalee W. Tavenner; brother, Jackson Russell Tavenner; and sister, Dolores Lee “DeeDee” Vigue.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John W. Reid; daughter, Lisa (Arthur) Hill; son, Richard (Lisa) Reid; sister-in-law Jean Hughes; brother-in-law, Dale (Gerri) Morgan; six grandchildren, Cole (Mindy) Hill, Katie (Will) Loyd, Guy (Krystyn) Reid, Wes Reid, Dakota Coburn, and Cheyenne Coburn; eleven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Doris’s final resting place will be at the Port Hudson National Cemetery alongside her parents and brother. A celebration of life will be hosted by the family at a later time. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in the name of Doris Marie Reid to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a children’s charity Doris actively supported. www.st.jude.org.

- Revelation 21:4 -