Doris Ann Naramor's Obituary
Doris Ann Naramor, 91, of Springdale passed peacefully at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville on Wednesday May 13, 2026, with family at her side. Born September 22, 1934, in Arkansas City, Kansas to Howard and Edna Parker Smith, she was preceded in death by her husband Chester Naramor and her nephew, Thomas Dickard. A woman of deep faith, she was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, attended First Christian Church and WaterWay with her niece, and enjoyed attending diverse worship experiences at many churches, even those that didn’t align with her own beliefs.
She is survived by her brothers, Paul Dix and his wife Joyce of Tulsa and Jim Smith of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four nieces, Melody Bowen Miller of Springdale, Tina Hankins of Saint Paul, Arkansas and Melody Smith Harding of Oklahoma City, Valerie Fritsch of Owasso, Oklahoma and one nephew, Darren Dix of Norman, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her beloved kitty Jennifer the Showshoe Cat, who now resides with the Millers.
Doris met her husband Chester at Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University), and the two married June 19, 1959. After college, they moved to Mexico City to study Spanish, then spent years in South American countries as missionaries in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. After the mission field, they settled in Fayetteville, where Doris worked in veterinary clinics, retail establishments, and served with Mother’s Day Out and other ministries and sang in the choir at church. She lived a life punctuated by service, faith, and brought joy to those around her. Doris and Chester were married for over 60 years.
While they had no biological children, Doris and Chester were active participants in the lives and upbringing of their nieces “Tina and the two Melodys” and many others in their extended families. Doris taught them joy for art, music, animals, faith, photography, and reading. She especially loved reading, even into her nineties, and found real joy in the pages of a novel.
Family and friends will gather in Doris’s memory for food and fellowship (and even some books) at All American Steakhouse in Springdale at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 29, 2026, with a graveside memorial service immediately following at 1:30 PM Friday May 29, 2026, at Forest Park Cemetery in Springdale with Rev. Don Morrow from First Christian Church and WaterWay officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests tributes be made in her honor to KUAF National Public Radio, to the NWA Women’s Shelter, to NWA Habitat for Humanity, or please buy a book, a coffee, or a meal for someone in memory of her kindness. To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com
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