Dorothy Marie (Coash) Gardner, 91 of Atchison KS died Wednesday, July 6th, 2016 at the Atchison Senior Village.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am on Monday, July 11th, 2016 at St. Benedicts Church with Fr. Daniel Gardner as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A parish rosary will be recited at 7:000 pm on Sunday, July 10th, 2016 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with visitation to follow until 8:30 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to Sacred Heart Church, St. Benedicts Catholic Grade School, or Alzheimer’s and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Dorothy was born on March 30, 1925 in Clifton, Kansas the daughter of Russell and Hazel (Scouten) Coash. She graduated from Clifton Grade School and Clifton Rural High School. Following graduation Dorothy worked for three years as Assistant Postmaster in the Clifton Post Office. She was united in marriage to Raymond C. Gardner on Dec. 31, 1946 at St. Mary’s Church in Clifton, KS. They resided in Beatrice, Nebraska for 3 years where she worked as a bookkeeper at Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company. They then moved to Manhattan, KS where Ray attended two years at Kansas State University. Later moving to Kansas City, KS where she worked as a bookkeeper and secretary at Brennan Printing Co. during her husband’s schooling at the Kansas City College of Mortuary Science. They moved to Atchison, Kansas and later to Bellevue, Kansas. Upon their return to Atchison, Kansas after four years she was employed for several years as a County Assessor and assisted with the St. Joseph school food program and became associated with the Red Cross disaster program. For two years she became bookstore manager of Mount St. Scholastica College and continued in that capacity for five more years when Mount St. Scholastica merged with St. Benedict’s becoming Benedictine College. She then became active in the funeral business when Ray entered into partnership at the Stanton Mortuary. For seven years she worked as data processor and worker for the LIEAP program through the SRS. She was a member of St. Joseph Church and later Sacred Heart Church serving as a Eucharistic minister. She belonged to the altar society. Her membership in the Daughters of Isabella began on her return to Atchison, where she held offices for many years. She was a member of Zonta International for many years, serving in various offices of this organization. She also has been a volunteer of the Atchison Hospital Auxiliary for a number of years. She was a frequent blood donor. For seven years she and her husband conducted the Heartland Share Food Program in Atchison. While her sons were in Cub Scouts she served as a Den Mother. She enjoyed her membership in the Pineview Country Club and participated in the golf tournaments and held several offices in the Women’s Golf Organization. Other interests are memberships in several bridge clubs and traveling. Other interests besides her devotion to her family were sewing and crocheting, traveling and memberships in several bridge clubs. In 1999 the Gardner’s were selected as the Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year and the Kansas Knights of Columbus Family of the Year.

Survivors include six sons; Dr. Patrick (Lois Jean) Gardner, Kennewick, WA, CM Sgt. Retired Gregory (Betty Jo) Gardner, Lenexa, KS, Rev. Daniel Gardner, Holton & Hiawatha, KS, Dennis ( Patricia) Gardner, Atchison KS, Kevin (Terri-Ann) Lansing, KS, Rex(Jeanne) Gardner, Lawrence, KS., a daughter, Lisa (Randy) Carney, Irving, TX, 13 grandchildren: Rachel, Nicholas, Geoffrey (Amy) Tamara (Luke) Steven (Stefanie), Jonathan (Mia) Adam(Emily), Gregory (Carrie) Tonya (Randy) Guy, Zachary (Stephanie) Kyle and Kasey, 14 great grandchildren , Three brothers: John (Lois( Coash, Albuquerque, NM , David (Reva) Coash, Clyde, KS, and Duane (Alberta) Coash, Goodland KS, a sister: Frances (Benjamin) Kantack, Sioux Falls, SD, three sister-in-laws, Donna Coash, Maxine Branfort and Dolores Gardner and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 62 years, Raymond C. Gardner, her parents, brother’s Gene, Melvin, and Ronald Coash, and one granddaughter, Alexa Dawn Gardner, daughter of Gregory and Betty Jo Gardner, three sister-in laws, Ada Mae Gardner, Maureen Coash and Mary Rowland, two brother-in laws, Doran Gardner and Bill Branfort.