Doris V. Harris passed away peacefully on Friday evening, July 10, 2026. Born on October 6, 1934, in Hothouse Township of Cherokee County, North Carolina, Doris is lovingly remembered by her four daughters and sons-in-law, her sister Evelyn, and the 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren who knew her as "Mammaw."

Doris had a remarkable gift for growing things and was endlessly resourceful. She could turn a twig into a towering tree and cultivated large kitchen gardens that became rows of home-canned vegetables and preserves. She loved to gather family around her table, making memorable meals with whatever happened to be in her pantry and a cook's intuition built on years of feeding those she loved.

She was a keeper of old mountain remedies and wisdom passed down from generations of her self-sustaining people in the western North Carolina mountains. Fearless, she met every challenge with the ingenuity and unwavering determination born of her Appalachian roots.

Butterflies were drawn to her - they would literally light upon her nose while having a conversation. She enjoyed reading, especially western novels, loved the classic movie musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age, and always appreciated a good laugh and a good story. She was a timeless beauty, tall and radiating an inner warmth and dignity that drew people to her.

Doris leaves behind a family shaped by her love, nourished by her table, and rooted in the lessons she quietly lived every day. And for those who knew her, a butterfly lingering a little longer than expected will always bring Mammaw to mind.