Doris Elaine (Myles) Pace, age 90, passed peacefully at home on Oct. 4, in Longview, Texas, in the care of family. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday at Mason Springs Baptist Church in Longview. Viewing will be 1 - 7:30 p.m. Friday at Stanmore Funeral Home in Longview. Family will be present 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. to acknowledge visitors.

Born Dec. 9, 1934, in Longview, she was a lifelong advocate for education and community service. A graduate of Longview Colored High School and Prairie View Normal and Industrial College in 1954, now known as Prairie View A&M University, she also earned her Psychiatric Aide certification from New Mexico State Hospital and studied at Texas Woman's University. She served as a secretary at Janie Daniels Elementary in Longview before beginning a distinguished 33-year career as an elementary school teacher at Julia C. Frazier Elementary in Dallas.

Following retirement in 2001, she continued her advocacy for the youth and public education via volunteer opportunities with Frazier Elementary and mentoring programs with Longview Independent School District. She remained active in the Texas Retired Teachers Association through the Longview-Gregg County unit, continuing her advocacy on behalf of retired educators.

A Life member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Doris held local chapter leadership positions that included guiding the chapter's girls youth affiliate, the Rhoer Club, and organizing numerous sorority-sponsored community events such as "Buds of Spring" and Rhomania pageants. In her retirement years, she mentored the sorority's undergraduate students at several East Texas area universities and colleges as an alumni adviser.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Napoleon "Bo" Myles and Mabel (Gentry) Myles Fite; her stepfather, Linus Fite; and her beloved husband, Japheth P. Pace. Doris is survived by her sons: Ronald Darwin Myles, Sr. (Irene), Michael Vogeary Myles, Sr., and Japheth Dewayne Pace. She leaves behind a legacy of loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins and extended family.