Doris J. Hinson

Doris Hinson passed away peacefully on December 23rd, 2018, at the age of 85. She will be greatly missed by all of her family, friends and the community of Norman, Oklahoma.

Doris was born in Oklahoma City on June 2, 1933. She spent some of her childhood years in San Antonio, TX before moving back to Oklahoma. She graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City and went on to attend The University of Oklahoma where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. She eventually earned Master’s Degrees in both Library Science and Journalism from OU.

Doris had a life long quest for learning, was an avid reader and an accomplished oil painter. She loved blues music and old movies. During her retirement years, she was involved with the University Women’s Association, on the Board of Friends of OU School of Music and served as a Docent at the OU Fred Jones Museum of Art. She sang in the choir and was an elder at Memorial Presbyterian Church. Doris was also very involved with Meals on Wheels and enlisted all three of her sons in their younger years to help deliver meals and visit with elderly people who were hungry for some companionship and a hot meal.

For most of her working career, Doris was employed with the University of Oklahoma. She was the Research Publication Editor at OU’s Center for Graduate Studies and Research and produced a quarterly publication on research projects campus wide. This was the perfect job for her inquisitive mind and her uncanny ability to listen and absorb information.
Doris had a contagious spirit and a distinctive style throughout life that inspired her family, her friends, and anyone she met. Within minutes of meeting a stranger, she would know the life story of her new friend.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy Cronk and Leander Earl Gray Sr. and her three siblings, Richard Gray, Carol Whitcomb and Leander Earl Gray Jr. She also lost the love of her life, Bruce Hinson who passed in 2003, the only down side to her retirement years. But, of course, she was able to overcome the grief and continue a full life. Her social calendar was always full of luncheons, book club meetings, plays, singing in the choir, and of course shopping.

Her family will miss her very much and look forward to the day they will be reunited in heaven.
Doris is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Greg and Jody McKinzey, Steve and Karen McKinzey, and Phil and Lee McKinzey; grandchildren, Michael and Melissa Palmer, Shelby McKinzey, Joe McKinzey, Vanessa McKinzey, Ian McKinzey, Gray McKinzey, Emily Vaughn, and Aiden Vaughn; three great-grandchildren, Cooper, Lawson, and Foster Palmer; one niece, Gail Whitcomb; and two nephews, Jon and Richard Whitcomb.