Dora Grissom Mankin was born to William Langly and Ina Earl Grissom on March 10, 1935 in Cross Plains, Texas. She passed from this life on April 10, 2024 at home in Eldorado, Texas.
She was the oldest of seven siblings and said in her final years that she regretted that she outlived them all.
Dora’s parents moved from town to town as her father worked in road construction until he fell from a bridge in Dallas and broke his back. Shortly after his recovery, her father took work as a sharecropper and settled in Jones County on the Hampton farm in Truby, Texas where Dora and a couple of her younger siblings helped chop cotton and pulled bolls at harvest time.
It was in Truby that Dora took a job at Mr. Hampton’s general store and it was there that she met James Edward Mankin. They were married on November 19, 1953 shortly after he returned from Korea.
The couple made their home in Truby where they raised two sons, James Randy Mankin and Michael Leon Mankin.
In addition to James’ oilfield job, the couple tried their hand at dryland farming and eventually began raising hogs. They raised several thousand head of hogs before James’ job with Wes-Tex Drilling Company brought the couple to Eldorado.
Following his retirement, James and Dora spent many winters at Port Aransas where they made countless friends from among the “Winter Texans” who flocked to the island each season. While he loved catching flounder, Dora turned her attention to beach-combing and enjoying her and arts and crafts. Her favorite time of the year, however, was during the warmer months as she enjoyed being outside and tending to her plants and flowers.
Dora was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Randall Grissom, Darrell Grissom, Ellie Joe Grissom Kirk, William Earl Grissom, Jimmie Frank Grissom and Sharon Grissom Rister; and her husband James who left her side in 2016.
She is survived by sons Randy and wife Kathy of Eldorado and Mike and wife Rhonda of Prague, Oklahoma; grandchildren Holly Studer and husband Jeff of Chandler, Oklahoma, Dr. Sarah Mankin Garza and husband Marcus of Lubbock, J.L. Mankin and wife Jacy of Big Lake, and Courtney Clayton and husband Brannon of Sherman; and eight great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Grissom of Irving, brother-in-law Larry Olney and wife Ramona of Hawley, sister-in-law Marilyn Grant of Abilene, and brother-in-law Jerry Lynn Olney and wife Carla of Hamlin.
Dora was a member of Community Baptist Church in Eldorado.
A graveside service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13th at the Eldorado Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Community Baptist Church of Eldorado, Texas, P.O. Box 998, Eldorado, Texas, or a charity of your choice.
