Doris Brown Kjerulff

Doris Brown Kjerulff, 91, of Lake Charles passed away at 12:10 AM on Thursday, November 7, 2024 in a local hospice facility. 

Doris was born on June 29, 1933, to George and Gertrude Brown in Georgetown, LA. She was 1 of 7 siblings and lived in Georgetown until 1950 when she graduated high school. Shortly after graduating, she moved to Lake Charles, LA where she got a job at the telephone company and met her husband. It was ‘love at first sight’ and she lived happily married for 67 years and 9 months to James Edward Kjerulff, Sr. They traveled the country for work but settled in Lake Charles where they raised three sons. 

Doris’ hobbies included gardening vegetables and flowers, birdwatching, baking, candy making (especially pralines), crocheting, and sewing. She found joy in sharing her baked goods with friends and family. She attended Sale Street Baptist Church where she volunteered to cook for Wednesday night dinners for 20 years. Doris also worked at the church daycare for 6 years and belonged to a ladies sewing group where she made dolls for children at the women's shelter. 

After retirement, she often traveled to Illinois to visit her grandchildren and family, but her real love was spending Christmas morning with the entire family. She would wake everyone up before dawn to celebrate the holiday and truly loved family gatherings for any occasion - big or small. 

Doris was affectionately known as Granny to her grandchildren. When asked, ‘Do you enjoy having grandchildren as much as you enjoyed having children?’, her answer was, ‘Grandmas always enjoy grandchildren, we can spoil them - play with them- cook with them - go for a walk with them - show them birds - flowers - help them ride bikes - when we get tired - we can bring them home!’ Granny did just that! 

Doris is preceded in death by her husband James Edward Kjerulff, Sr., her son, Thomas Paul (Marla) Kjerulff, her parents, and four siblings.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, James Edward “Eddie” Kjerulff, Jr. , and Steven Quinton (Theresa) Kjerulff; grandchildren, Michael Yourick Kjerulff, Lauren Ashley Brown, and Lindsey Renee Thibodeaux; four great-grandchildren, Westin Thomas Brown, Luca Sydney Kjerulff, Makynlee Reed Schelette and Case James Landry; and two siblings, Belle Cook and Jack (Bobbie) Brown.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in the Johnson Funeral Home chapel. Pastor Drew Mills will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will begin on Monday from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and continue on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the start of the service.

Pallbearers will be Michael Kjerulff, Westin Brown, Justin Schelette, Brad Landry, Lamont Baker and Justin Baker. 

We would like to thank the caregivers at Harbor Hospice for their excellent care and genuine compassion.