Funeral Services for Doris E. King Underwood will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, Nebraska with Reverend Jim Bendorf officiating. Interment will follow at the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, northeast of Republican City, Nebraska.

Doris Elaine King Underwood, 89 years of age, of Alma, passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018 at the Colonial Villa-Good Samaritan Society in Alma.  Doris was born October 9, 1928 in Franklin County, Nebraska, northwest of Naponee, Nebraska, the younger of two daughters born to William Carl Gottleib and Hilda Julia Maria (Amman) Fratzke. She was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, northeast of Republican City in 1928 and was later confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Alma in 1939. Doris received her primary education at Sindt Rural School District #8 in Republican City and then graduating with the Franklin High School with the class of 1944, at the age of 15.  Doris and her sister, Hope were introduced to music at a young age.  At a young age, she learned to play the piano by watching her mother.  During their school years, Doris and Hope were everything that involved music, including:  singing in the choir, band and flag corps.  Her love of music was passed to her sons.

Following graduation, Doris and a girlfriend rode the bus to Colorado wanting to see the world!  She always knew there was more beyond, Naponee.  Doris' friend got married and so she moved back to Naponee.  A short time later, Doris took the train to the west coast.  She found work at a theater as an usherette.  One day during a show, an announcement was broadcast that World War II had ended.  Everyone ran into the streets to celebrate.

Doris met her future husband at a drive-inn and on December 24, 1948, she was united in marriage to Robert H. King at a chapel, on the beach in Long Beach, California.  The couple made their home in Long Beach, and then moved to Portland, Oregon where they were blessed with three sons: Douglas Clark, Paul Warren and David Robert.  On December 12, 1961, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; Doris then began working at Nabisco.  In 1970, she returned to the Naponee area and with the help of her boys, she opened the local café, King's Crown; later, she bought the local bar and turned it into a respectable family steak house called Kings Palace. In 1983, she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where she began working at the Department of Social Services.

On July 3, 1984, she was united in marriage to William J. Underwood in Lincoln. The couple moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1987, where they enjoyed their retirement. On March 28, 2000, she was preceded in death by William; Doris returned to Alma, to be closer to family.

Doris was a faithful member of the Peace Lutheran Church of Alma. She was a gifted musician and used her talents to teach piano lessons and direct many choirs. Doris was an avid reader; enjoyed working crossword puzzles, and took great pride in her beautifully tended yard and flowers. In her younger years, she loved to square dance; winning many competitions. Most of all, Doris loved her family and treasured all the time spent with her grandchildren and their families.

Doris was preceded in death by: her parents; two husbands; two sons: Douglas King in 1994 and Paul King in 2012; and her sister, Hope Gwendolyn Shoemaker and her husband, David.

Doris leaves to celebrate her life; her son, David King and his wife, Kim of Alma; seven grandchildren:  Megan Dardon and her husband, James; Michael King and his wife, Megan; Emily Merritt and her fiancé, Jason Johns; Joni Canning and her husband, Alex; Stacy Thomas and her husband, Marvin; Eron Waking and her husband, Justin; and J.J. King; 17 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; two step-daughters: Wanda Kilburn of Garland, Nebraska and Patricia Underwood of Alma; one step-granddaughter; two step-great-granddaughters; and a host of other relatives, and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma.

A memorial has been established in Doris' honor and kindly suggested to the family to begin a local music scholarship.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com .

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.