Doris M. Avant Schard, 86 of Arcadia passed away Monday, April 07, 2008. She was born September 04, 1921 in Arcadia. Doris was a member of First Baptist Church, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading and traveling with her nieces and nephews. Doris was raised on Joshua Creek, the second of five children of Henry & Ethel Avant. She graduated from DeSoto High and went to Mound Park Hospital for her Nurse s Training. After her Nurse s Training she joined the U.S. Army and had the rank of Second Lt, she served in the Islands in the Pacific during WWII taking care of the wounded troops. When the war ended, she was on Okinawa waiting with the troops to invade Japan. She came home and worked at Sarasota Memorial Hospital as Director of Nursing, until her retirement. She married late in life to George Schard, she had no children of her own but is loved by many nieces, nephews, great nieces & nephews. She is survived by two sisters, Irma Hall, Una Terry, and one brother Bob Avant. Visitation will be 12-2PM, Thursday, April 10, 2008 with services at 2PM at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home 50 N Hillsborough Ave. in Arcadia. Burial will follow at Joshua Creek Cemetery with the Military rendering Honors. On-line condolences maybe made at www.pongerkaysgrady.com. Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home and Cremation Services are in charge of the arrangements.