Doris Mae Sympson

Doris Mae Sympson, 92, West Plains, passed away on May 31, 2025, at NHC HealthCare, West Plains.

She was born April 28, 1933 at Lynn, Indiana, the fourth of six children to Isaac Lafayette Hutchens and Dorothy Olive Thornburg Hutchens.  The family settled in the West Plains area where Doris graduated from high school in 1951 along with her future husband, Ian Sympson.  Afterward, she joined the Army and he the Navy, and she served as a nurses’ aide at a military hospital.  She and Ian married April 30, 1954, and had Ruth Ann and Barbara Lynn before returning to West Plains in 1956 to raise their family.  Doris was a homemaker and enjoyed her piano, dollmaking, and knitting and crocheting.  She was a long time member of First Church of God.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Ian; her daughter, Ruth Ann Klingler; and siblings, Ralph, Lois, Evelyn, and Wayne.

She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Freeman and husband, Ron; son-in-law, Gary Klingler; grandsons, David Klingler and wife, Esther; Adam Klingler, and wife, Julie, and their daughter, Lisa; Justin Freeman and wife, Alison, and their children, Molly and James; and Brett Freeman and wife, Jessica, and their children, Lilly, Addie, and Evie; her sister, Carol Scaggs and husband, Ron; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m., Friday, June 6, 2025, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at 3:00 p.m., at Sweeton Pond Cemetery, Dora, Missouri.  Memorial contributions may be made to West Plains Public Library Children’s Program or the Pottersville Baptist Church Food Pantry, and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, Missouri. 

The family appreciates and wishes to thank the staff at NHC HealthCare for their care of Doris during the past two years.