Mary Deis

Mary Jeanne Lamar Danis Deis, 82, died at home, surrounded by family, September 13, 2012 after a long illness. She was born March 11, 1930 in Pueblo, Colorado to Bernard Johnson Lamar and Marie Ellen Hardy and was an Alumni of Colorado College, and an honor graduate of Pikes Peak Community College and the University of Southern Colorado.
She studied at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, co-founded the Colorado Springs Artists Association, and was a member of the Franklin, Nebraska TAG art group. Deis was also active locally in the American Legion Auxiliary, Red Hat Ladies, and women Pitch players.
Dozens of years in media relations took her from Texas to Nevada and Colorado. As Executive Secretary to the editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, she created and authored "Dear Maverick" and as a free-lance artist and journalist, appeared on hundreds of radio and television broadcasts across Colorado.
An activist, she fought for women's rights, environmental responsibility, Native American land, water and educational access as well as animal rights and championed dozens of organizations. 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, and her pride and joy is one of many merry-go-rounds designed and built by her father and uncle at the Lamar Manufacturing Co. in Pueblo, CO.
A life-long Democrat, her dedication to issues led to attendance of local, state and national events and conventions through membership in the National Women's Political Caucus and Colorado Democratic Women. Deis read voraciously and traveled at every opportunity attending operas, symphonies and theater 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 Crisscrossing the America's provided her with historical reference to the revolutionary and civil wars and examination of battlefields and plantations.
Mary Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents of Colorado Springs and eldest daughter, Carol Danis, of Franklin, NE . She is survived by her sisters Sandra Benell (Ralph) of Scottsdale, AZ and Dr. Mary Gaye Leo of Cave Creek, AZ ; daughter Diana Danis(Brad Brown) of Bloomington, NE; son Michael Danis (Elizabeth) of Frisco, CO; son Gregory Danis ( daughters Samantha and Dezerae) of Colorado Springs and son Benjamin Deis and (Kim) (sons Ben and Brent) Fountain, CO; Stepson, Galen Danis (Karen) WA; Grandchildren Stephanie Detlefsen (Steve)( their children Tyler, Abbi and Kaiti) Franklin, NE; Kristy Manning ( John)( their children Jessamyn and Jack) Westminster, CO; along with numerous cousins.
Services are at the Congregational Church in Franklin, NE October 6, 2012 at 10:30 am with burial at the Bloomington Maple Grove cemetery followed by a luncheon provided by the American Legion Women's Auxiliary and the Women of the Congressional Church at the Bloomington Community Center. A Service will be held in Colorado Springs October 13, 2012.