Doris Idele

Lofton Bedgood

Doris Lofton Bedgood of Sweetwater, Texas, passed away on September 13, 2026 at the age of 92. She was born on June 20, 1934 in Texarkana, Arkansas to Clarence and Idele Lofton.

Doris was married to William Clyde “Bill” Bedgood on September 1, 1955. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Glen and Laura Bedgood of Sweetwater, Texas, son-in-law Jim Edd Ferguson of Redfield, Arkansas, grandson Jacob Bedgood of Abilene, Texas, granddaughter Mollie Brock and husband Philip and great grandchildren Sawyer, Charlie and Gina Brock of Sweetwater, Texas, grandson Jef Ferguson and wife Angela and great granddaughter Amilia Ferguson of Benton Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Bedgood and her daughter Bonnie Ferguson.

Doris was a supportive wife and homemaker. She was a gifted pianist and sang in the church choir. She enjoyed sewing, gardening and camping and was even known to tan a deer hide and skin a rattlesnake. She lived in multiple communities over the years moving the family from state to state as her husband Bill was transferred as a J. C. Penney store manager. She worked as a part-time secretary at Second Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and her church in West Helena, Arkansas. She was also a secretary at First Baptist Church, the Texas Workforce Commission and at Texas State Technical Institute all in Sweetwater. They raised their children mostly in Sweetwater and she returned to Sweetwater in the final years of her life. She moved into the Hoyt Court community and made new friends and rekindled old friendships.

Her wishes were to be buried next to her husband and daughter. A private memorial will be held at the Mulberry Cemetery near England, Arkansas on a date to be determined. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Sweetwater, or to Doris’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.