Doris Norene Rathbun Bogart, age 91, passed peacefully from this life on July 11, 2012 in Azle, Texas after a long illness. Doris was born June 8, 1921 in Beverly, Kansas to Lew and Elva Rathbun. Her two older brothers, George and Paul, were dearly loved by their “Sis,” and many stories exist of the fun they all shared. Doris and her mother were a common sight at community functions, with Elva playing the fiddle, accompanied by Doris on the piano. She attended a one-room school house in rural Lincoln County through the 8th grade, and was a 1939 graduate of Beverly Rural High School, Beverly, Kansas. Soon after, she entered the nursing program at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, and became a Registered Nurse. Doris lived and worked in the Kansas City area for many years, serving as a Red Cross Nurse, a surgical scrub nurse, and private duty nurse. Throughout this time, she exercised her love for music by being a member of the University of Kansas City Chorus, the vocal ensemble that performed with the Kansas City Philharmonic. She ultimately made her home in Blue Springs, Missouri, where she gave birth to her daughter, Frederica Dorene. Doris returned to Kansas as her father’s health declined in 1961, making her home on a farm south of Tescott. For several years thereafter she worked as a registered nurse in a variety of settings, enjoyed her hobbies of gardening, sewing, reading, instrumental and vocal music, and with the help of her brother Paul and sons (her beloved nephews), farmed the land. Doris became a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tescott, and centered much of her life around its activities such as adult Bible study and Christianity classes, choir, Luther League, quilting circle, and serving as both Church Secretary and Treasurer. Doris’ beautiful singing voice will no doubt be remembered as she was a soloist for many weddings and funerals, “The Lord’s Prayer” being her favorite performance piece. In 1973, she married David Bogart and together they shared their love of country life, farming, pets (cats and dogs), K-State football and basketball, life-long learning, and service to the community. Doris retired in 1984 from Ottawa County Hospital where she had served as Superintendent. Her belief in the mission of the facility led her to serve on the Board for many years after retirement, as she considered the hospital a gift and wanted to contribute to its continued growth and success. Before moving to Azle, Texas with her daughter, Dorene in 2011, Doris was a resident of Drury Place in Salina, Kansas where she continued to enjoy her hobbies, the “Wheel of Fortune” and “Sixty Minutes,” visiting with old friends, and making new ones at her new home.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Dorene Matzner of Azle, Texas, step-daughter Becky Cheney and her husband Mike of Lincoln, Kansas, step-son Scott Bogart of Fort Worth, Texas, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, David, her brothers Paul and George and their wives, Louise and Pauline respectively, as well as three nephews, Robert Rathbun, Gene Rathbun, and David Rathbun.

Graveside services will be at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, July 19 at Monroe Cemetery, Beverly. Visitation from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at Wilson Family Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Ottawa County Health Center and may be left in care of the funeral home.