Mary Deis Obituary

Popular Former Gazette Columnist, Mary Jeanne Lamar Danis Deis, 82, died at home in Bloomington, Nebraska, surrounded by family, September 13, 2012 after a long illness. Born March 11, 1930 in Pueblo, Colorado to Benjamin Johnson Lamar and Marie Ellen Hardy, she was an Alumni of Colorado College, and an honor graduate of both Pikes Peak Community College and the University of Southern Colorado. She studied at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and co-founded the Colorado Springs Artists Association. Dozens of years in media relations took her from Texas to Nevada and Colorado. As Executive Secretary to the editor of the Gazette Telegraph, she created and authored the "Dear Maverick" column which had a cowboy vernacular, with a large male following. Few knew the author was female! She wrote features for the Gazette and as a free-lance artist and journalist, appeared on hundreds of radio and television broadcasts across Colorado. In 1974 she went to Colorado Interstate Gas Company as Executive Secretary to the Senior Vice-President, becoming assistant editor and contributor to their monthly magazine, retiring in 1992. An activist, she fought for women's rights, environmental responsibility, Native American land, water and educational access as well as animal rights. She attended numerous local, state and national events/conventions through the National Women's Political Caucus and Colorado Democratic Women. Deis read voraciously and traveled at every opportunity attending operas, symphonies and theaters from Paris to New York to Santa Fe. Jeanne's trips to Europe, Japan and China and Mexico stimulated her interests and imagination and allowed her to explore the world's architecture, sculptures, aviaries, arboretums, zoos and museums. Crisscrossing the America's provided her with historical reference to the revolutionary and civil wars and examination of battlefields and plantations. Her love of life was reflected in her overflowing gardens, tree-planting and study of birds of North America. The center-piece of her yard is a merry-go-round designed and built by her father and uncle at the Lamar Manufacturing Company, Pueblo, CO. She moved to Nebraska in 1999 and was a member of the Franklin TAG art group, American Legion Auxiliary and Red Hat Ladies. She was preceded in death by her parents of Colorado Springs and eldest daughter, Carol Danis, Franklin, NE. She is survived by her sisters Sandra Benell (Ralph) Scottsdale, AZ and Dr. Gaye Leo, Cave Creek, AZ; daughter Diana Danis (Brad Brown) Bloomington, NE; son Michael Danis (Elizabeth) Frisco, CO; son Gregory Danis (daughters Samantha & Dezerae) Colorado Springs; son Benjamin Deis (Kim) (sons Ben & Brent) Fountain, CO; Stepson, Galen Danis (Karen) Bremerton, WA; Grandchildren Stephanie Detlefsen (Steve) (children Tyler, Abbi and Kaiti) Franklin, NE; Kristy Manning (John) (children Jessamyn and Jack) Westminster, CO; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Deis will be inurned at the Bloomington, NE Maple Grove Cemetery. The Memorial Service is Saturday, October 13, 2012, 10:30, First Congregational Church, 20 East Vrain, Colorado Springs. A Life celebration follows at Country Bar, 606 S. Santa Fe, Fountain, CO.