Obituary for Doris Mardell Spencer
Doris Mardell (Hisken) Spencer was born at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas on September 19, 1932 to Russell and Eva Hisken. They lived on a 20 acre farm close to I35 and 47th Street in Wichita. The family moved to a farm East of Belle Plaine when she was five years old. She attended the Kirby one-room school from first through 5th grades, where she was the only girl. She, and her brother Eddy, rode their horse to school. In sixth grade she went to Belle Plaine Grade School where she met her best friend, Joy Spencer. They remained best friends all through school and graduated in 1950.
Mardell attended nurses training at Wesley Hospital from 1950-1953 during which time she started dating Donald Max Spencer, Joy’s brother. The romance blossomed and on April 4, 1954 they were married at the old Belle Plaine United Methodist Church and honeymooned in the Missouri Ozarks. This union lasted until Don passed away just three months short of their 60th anniversary.
Mardell started her career in nursing at William Newton Hospital in Winfield in 1953. After she and Don were married, they moved to Wellington where she started to work at Hatcher Hospital, until it closed in 1964. During her time at Hatcher Hospital, she and Don moved back to Belle Plaine where they raised their family. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital and then Wesley as a surgical nurse until her retirement in 1994.
One of Mardell’s loves was sewing. She took great pride in sewing her family’s clothes and making things for friends. She was active in her church and spent numerous years teaching Sunday School and sitting on many committees.
Mardell passed into eternal rest on Sept 23 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston at the age of 87.
She will be remembered fondly for her wit and ornery personality, especially by her many nieces and nephews who referred to her as “Great and Wonderful Aunt Mardell”.
Survivors include: Kris Stehlik of Wichita, KS; Kathy Marshall and her husband Darrell of Braman, OK; Brent Spencer and his wife Sherie of Hesston, KS; brother, Lawrence “Eddy” Hisken of Andover, KS; five grandchildren, Kyle Spencer and wife Dasha, Riley Spencer and wife Kelcie, Shelby Nelson and husband Tyler, Karly Marshall and fiancé Nick Utt, and Andy Marshall; three great-grandchildren, Mason Noll, Kayden Spencer and Ariana Spencer; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a brother, Russell “Bud” Hisken; step-brothers: James Nugen, Roy Nugen, Ray Nugen, Charles Nugen, Dean Nugen, Harold Nugen; step-sisters: Ada Hervey, Annie Skinner; and grandson, Timothy “Aaron” Noll.
Visitation: Friday, September 27, 2019, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Funeral: 2:00 pm, Friday, September 27, 2019, both at Belle Plaine United Methodist Church. Interment to follow at Belle Plaine Cemetery.
The family encourages everyone to wear blue in honor of Mardell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Belle Plaine United Methodist Church, 124 E. 10th Ave., Belle Plaine, KS 67013 or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market St., Wichita, KS 67202.
Mardell attended nurses training at Wesley Hospital from 1950-1953 during which time she started dating Donald Max Spencer, Joy’s brother. The romance blossomed and on April 4, 1954 they were married at the old Belle Plaine United Methodist Church and honeymooned in the Missouri Ozarks. This union lasted until Don passed away just three months short of their 60th anniversary.
Mardell started her career in nursing at William Newton Hospital in Winfield in 1953. After she and Don were married, they moved to Wellington where she started to work at Hatcher Hospital, until it closed in 1964. During her time at Hatcher Hospital, she and Don moved back to Belle Plaine where they raised their family. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital and then Wesley as a surgical nurse until her retirement in 1994.
One of Mardell’s loves was sewing. She took great pride in sewing her family’s clothes and making things for friends. She was active in her church and spent numerous years teaching Sunday School and sitting on many committees.
Mardell passed into eternal rest on Sept 23 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston at the age of 87.
She will be remembered fondly for her wit and ornery personality, especially by her many nieces and nephews who referred to her as “Great and Wonderful Aunt Mardell”.
Survivors include: Kris Stehlik of Wichita, KS; Kathy Marshall and her husband Darrell of Braman, OK; Brent Spencer and his wife Sherie of Hesston, KS; brother, Lawrence “Eddy” Hisken of Andover, KS; five grandchildren, Kyle Spencer and wife Dasha, Riley Spencer and wife Kelcie, Shelby Nelson and husband Tyler, Karly Marshall and fiancé Nick Utt, and Andy Marshall; three great-grandchildren, Mason Noll, Kayden Spencer and Ariana Spencer; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a brother, Russell “Bud” Hisken; step-brothers: James Nugen, Roy Nugen, Ray Nugen, Charles Nugen, Dean Nugen, Harold Nugen; step-sisters: Ada Hervey, Annie Skinner; and grandson, Timothy “Aaron” Noll.
Visitation: Friday, September 27, 2019, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Funeral: 2:00 pm, Friday, September 27, 2019, both at Belle Plaine United Methodist Church. Interment to follow at Belle Plaine Cemetery.
The family encourages everyone to wear blue in honor of Mardell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Belle Plaine United Methodist Church, 124 E. 10th Ave., Belle Plaine, KS 67013 or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market St., Wichita, KS 67202.