Dodge City - On August 15, 1933, on a small farm in Haskell County, Kansas, Mary Lou Frank was born to Edward and Elizabeth Frank. She was the 5th of 7 children. She peacefully passed away at the age 89 in the early morning of December 24, 2022 in Aurora Colorado.

Mary Lou spent her childhood on the family farm in Haskell County. She attended West and East Banner schools in her elementary years. Life on the farm consisted of chores, gardening, sewing, cooking, and she worked hard on the farm. After helping on the farm for a couple years, Mary decided to go back to school and earned her high school diploma in 1955. She continued her education at Garden City Community College and earned her Master's in Education at Emporia State.

Mary met her future husband Dennis Doris while attending Garden City Community College and they were married on August 24, 1957 in Dighton, Kansas. In the fall of that year, they started their teaching careers. Mary taught in Lane County, Kansas for 20 years followed by another 20 years in Dodge City, Kansas.

After retirement, Mary dedicated many years and hours at the Teacher Hall of Fame. She and Dennis were very instrumental in bringing the Pleasant Hill School House project to life at the Teacher Hall of Fame. She was also very involved with Meals on Wheels serving as their secretary. Mary was in charge of the pies, always having her favorite (coconut cream) there.

Being the kind person she was, Mary volunteered at the St Catherine's Hospital in Dodge City with the hospital auxiliary. In the past she served on the Dodge City Commission for the Prevention of Child Abuse. She also served as the VP for South West Kansas Retired School Personnel (Retired Teachers). In her lifetime, she was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Emporia State Teacher College Alumni Association, KNEA, and NEA. Mary was a member of the Christian Women Fellowship.

Mary Lou and Dennis spent many wonderful years traveling the world! They had visited 73 different countries and had been to all 7 continents. Mary herself got to visit all 50 states! Throughout their travels, they accumulated quite the collection of antiques and collectibles. High on her list was depression glass and fine crystal.

Mary is survived by her sister, Jennie Wiswell and her husband Darrell; brother-in-law, Lawrence Withers; sister-in-law, Virginia Frank; and many nieces and nephews. We are all so grateful to have had the privilege of knowing and loving such a wonderful Aunt. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Doris; her parents, Edward and Elizabeth Frank; her sisters, Sadie Frank, Florence Yost, and Esther Withers; her brothers, Floyd Frank and Paul Frank.

Funeral service will be held at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Dodge City on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 10:30 AM. Burial will be at 3:00 PM at the Lane County Cemetery, Dighton. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Thursday, December 29, 2022 from noon to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com .