Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Doris Juanita (Smith) Adkisson |
| Born | November 18, 1932 |
| Died | October 23, 2015 |
| Also Known As | Matriarch of the Von Erich family |
| Home(s) | Dallas, Texas (family base); later years in Hawaii; interment in Dallas |
| Spouse | Jack Barton Adkisson Sr. (Fritz Von Erich), 1929–1997 |
| Children | Six sons: Jack Jr., Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, Chris |
| Known For | Mother of one of wrestling’s most famous families; central figure in the rise of World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) era and the family’s storied triumphs and tragedies |
The Making of a Matriarch
Doris Juanita Smith was born on November 18, 1932, and grew up to become the quiet center of a high-velocity universe. When she married Jack Barton “Fritz Von Erich” Adkisson in the 1950s, their union set the stage for one of American sports entertainment’s most compelling family sagas. The ring name Von Erich would become a brand, a banner, and eventually, a burden—in equal measure.
While Fritz toured territories, built programs, and drew crowds, Doris ran the home front. She did not headline cards or cut promos, but the household she kept made the business possible: meals at odd hours, schedules knit around barnstorming loops, and a steady hand through injuries, victories, and the crush of public attention. Wrestling is a traveling circus; Doris was the anchor.
Building a Wrestling Dynasty
The Adkissons welcomed six sons. Their eldest, Jack Jr., died in 1959 at age 6 after a tragic accidental electrocution and drowning—an early crack in the family’s foundation that never fully mended. In the 1970s and 1980s, their next generation exploded into stardom. Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris carried the Von Erich name into packed arenas, especially in Texas, where World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) turned Friday nights in Dallas into a pilgrimage.
The Von Erichs were the local heroes, the must-see kids of Texas wrestling. They sold out buildings, ignited feuds, and made family-centered storytelling a regional phenomenon. Doris, typically off-camera, was the heartbeat behind the scenes—managing the ordinary amid the extraordinary, the domestic amid the spectacle.
Family at a Glance
| Name | Born–Died | Role/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Barton “Fritz” Adkisson Sr. | 1929–1997 | Patriarch; world-traveled wrestler and promoter (Fritz Von Erich) |
| Doris Juanita (Smith) Adkisson | 1932–2015 | Matriarch; stabilizing presence through decades of fame and loss |
| Jack Barton Adkisson Jr. | 1952–1959 | Eldest child; accidental death at age 6 |
| Kevin Ross Adkisson (Kevin Von Erich) | 1957– | Wrestler; the last surviving brother; father to Ross, Marshall, Kristen, and Jillian |
| David Alan Adkisson (David Von Erich) | 1958–1984 | Top star; died in Japan (official cause: acute enteritis) |
| Kerry Gene Adkisson (Kerry Von Erich) | 1960–1993 | National superstar; survived a catastrophic foot injury; died by suicide |
| Michael Brett Adkisson (Mike Von Erich) | 1964–1987 | Wrestler whose career was curtailed by illness; death in 1987 |
| Christopher Barton Adkisson (Chris Von Erich) | 1969–1991 | Youngest brother; died by suicide |
The Glory Years in Texas
In the early 1980s, WCCW transformed regional wrestling. The Sportatorium rang with chants for the barefoot hero Kevin, the charismatic Kerry, and the fiercely talented David. The family’s feuds—especially with the Fabulous Freebirds—were more than angles; they were cultural flashpoints that galvanized a generation of fans. Ticket stubs and television ratings grew, and with them the demands on the family’s time, bodies, and hearts.
Doris navigated public triumph as a private person. It was her nature, and it became her role: set the table, hold the line, and absorb the shock of the sudden turns that come with fame and physical performance. In a business driven by spectacle, she stayed grounded so others could fly.
A Chronology of Loss
The cost of that ascent was steep. Between 1959 and 1993, the Adkisson household endured five funerals for six sons. The narrative became mythologized—sometimes glibly—as a “curse,” yet for Doris it was no abstraction. It was the unimaginable task of grieving, then standing up again.
| Date | Family Member | Age | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 7, 1959 | Jack Jr. | 6 | Accidental electrocution/drowning |
| February 10, 1984 | David | 25 | Died in Tokyo (officially acute enteritis) |
| April 12, 1987 | Mike | 23 | Death reported in the wake of illness and personal struggles |
| September 12, 1991 | Chris | 22 | Died by suicide |
| February 18, 1993 | Kerry | 33 | Died by suicide |
Even as the headlines turned stark, Doris’s care extended outward—to grandchildren, to friends of the family, to a fan base that felt the losses like ripples across a lake. Pastors, locker rooms, and neighbors remember her as a presence: soft-spoken, resilient, practical.
Later Years and Passing
After Fritz’s death in 1997, Doris lived more quietly, spending her later years in Hawaii while remaining connected to family in Texas. She passed away on October 23, 2015, and was laid to rest in Dallas. In the stories told at her memorials, she was not only the mother of champions but the keeper of memory—the one who reminded everyone who they were before the bright lights found them.
The Third Generation Steps In
A new generation carries the name today. Kevin’s sons, Ross and Marshall, have wrestled internationally, echoing the barefoot bravado and straight-ahead athleticism their father made famous. Kerry’s daughter Lacey became a professional wrestler before stepping away to raise a family, while her sister Hollie keeps a lower profile. Kevin’s daughters, Kristen and Jillian, round out the third generation that Doris loved fiercely—proof that the family story did not end, even when so much felt lost.
| Grandchildren (Selected) | Parent | Notable Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Von Erich (David Michael Ross Adkisson) | Kevin | Active professional wrestler |
| Marshall Von Erich (Kevin Marshall Adkisson) | Kevin | Active professional wrestler |
| Kristen Rain Adkisson | Kevin | Private life |
| Jillian Lindsey Adkisson | Kevin | Private life |
| Lacey Dawn Adkisson (Lacey Von Erich) | Kerry | Retired professional wrestler; mother of three |
| Hollie Brooke Adkisson | Kerry | Private life |
A Family Timeline
- 1950s: Doris marries Jack “Fritz” Adkisson; the family begins its wrestling odyssey.
- March 7, 1959: Death of eldest son, Jack Jr.
- 1970s–early 1980s: The Von Erich brothers surge to fame; WCCW becomes a Texas institution.
- February 10, 1984: David dies while touring in Japan.
- April 12, 1987: Mike dies at 23.
- September 12, 1991: Chris dies at 22.
- February 18, 1993: Kerry dies at 33.
- 1997: Fritz passes away.
- October 23, 2015: Doris dies; services held in Dallas.
- 2010s–2020s: Renewed public interest in the family story, with Kevin and the third generation sharing the name and the narrative on new stages.
What Doris Represents
Numbers only tell part of it: six sons, five graves by 1993, and a mother who kept going. Doris represents the untitled work of family life—the lists, the meals, the hospital nights, the whispered prayers before a bell rings. She represents Texas grit, the quiet craft of care, and the unglamorous strength that keeps legends standing. If the Von Erichs were fire and thunder, she was the hearth.
FAQ
Who was Doris Adkisson?
She was the mother of the Von Erich wrestling family and the wife of Jack “Fritz Von Erich” Adkisson, serving as the steady center of the clan’s public and private lives.
How many children did she have?
Six sons: Jack Jr., Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris.
Why is her family famous?
Her husband and sons became stars of World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), turning the Von Erich name into a Texas wrestling phenomenon.
What happened to the Von Erich brothers?
Tragedy struck repeatedly between 1959 and 1993, with the deaths of Jack Jr., David, Mike, Chris, and Kerry; only Kevin remains.
Did Doris have a public career of her own?
She did not seek public spotlight; her role was primarily as matriarch, managing home and family in the demanding world of wrestling.
Where did Doris spend her later years?
She spent her later years in Hawaii and was interred in Dallas after her passing in 2015.
Who are the third-generation Von Erich wrestlers?
Kevin’s sons, Ross and Marshall, continue the family’s in-ring tradition.
Is Kevin Von Erich still alive?
Yes, Kevin is the surviving brother and remains active in sharing and honoring the family’s story.
Did Kerry Von Erich have children?
Yes, he had two daughters, Lacey and Hollie; Lacey briefly wrestled professionally.
What made Doris important to the wrestling world?
Her steadfast presence helped sustain a legendary family through eras of triumph and heartbreak, embodying resilience behind the curtain.
