Doris Jean Eberhart

Doris Jean Burkle Eberhart, 84, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas passed away Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Davis Life Care Center. Born December 3, 1926, in Lafayette, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late George D. and Esther Frances Elser Burkle. She was reared and received her early education in Lafayette, graduating from St. Francis High School. She attended St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing, where she became a Registered Nurse. In December of 1947, she married James N. Eberhart, in Lafayette. Mrs. Eberhart was an RN at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana and also at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1970, she and her family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where she worked as an RN for Jefferson Regional Medical Center until her retirement. Mrs. Eberhart was a dedicated member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and St. Joseph Altar Society, and was also a member of RSVP. She was an active volunteer for the Red Cross, having received the 50 year pin for her years of service. She had a dedicated passion for life, in which her family and faith were always kept first. She lived life to the fullest and loved to travel, which included journeys to all 50 US States as well as dozens of trips abroad. Her other hobbies included cooking, reading and sewing. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Georgie and Bobby. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, James Eberhart, of Pine Bluff; her sons, Alan David Eberhart, of Lafayette, Indiana, and Douglas Lee Eberhart, of Cabot, Arkansas; her daughter Lynne Ann McAllester, of Alexander, Arkansas; seven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; her brother, William Anthony Burkle, of Ohio and her sister Jacqueline Mary Gushwa, of Lafayette, Indiana. A Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father L. Warren Harvey officiating. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. A Vigil was held 6 p.m., Tuesday, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with a visitation following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Red Cross of Jefferson County, 211 West 3rd Avenue, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601.