Doris Brauda Gagnon, 97, of Waycross, died Monday evening, May 5, 2025, at her residence, following an extended illness.
She was born May 8, 1927 in Pierce County. She was the firstborn of 10 children of Curtis Henry Brauda and Pearl Gill Brauda.
After growing up in Pierce County and spending her young adult life in St. Joseph, Missouri and Atlanta, she moved to Orlando where she opened and operated the first telephone answering service in that city. Following retirement, she and her husband moved to Waycross to be near family. During her years in Waycross she was a member of Williams Chapel Baptist Church. She also expressed her lifelong creativity through quilting and crocheting and donating her work to many church and charitable causes.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerald A. Gagnon; her son, Ralph L. (Skip) Whittington Jr.; her brothers, Curtis Brauda and Larry Brauda; her sisters: Bernice Thornton and Kathleen Farnsworth and her granddaughter, Michelle Whittington.
Survivors include her devoted daughter and caregiver, Kristi Gagnon; her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Wanda Whittington; her brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Sue Brauda; her sisters, Maxine Thornton, Virginia Skipper, Faye Jenkins, and Fonda Lynch; her grandchildren, Michael Whittington, Cindy Swaukus, Laura Matthews (Mark), Kelli Claus and Beth Blanchard; 12 great-grandchildren; three great- great-grandchildren and a large extended family.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at the funeral home.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 22, from the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel.
The family will hold a private interment at Offerman Cemetery at a later date.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home of Waycross is in charge of the arrangements.
