Doras Jean Mahnken

May 28, 1930 - April 30, 2016

Doras Jean Duncan Mahnken, 85 Holden, Missouri, passed away April 30, 2016 at Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. She was born May 28, 1930 at Lee's Summit, Missouri. She was the third of five children born to John Richard and Vesta Lorene Hedrick Duncan. The family moved from Kansas City, Missouri near the Kingsville home place of her grandparents John Oscar and Martha Boston Duncan. In 1958, she was united in marriage to veterinarian Dr. Keith Mahnken at the Kingsville Christian Church. She assisted her husband with his practice and along with their children raising cattle. Later she worked for Missouri Valley Human Resource a community action agency. Doras was their outreach worker in Johnson County, Missouri. She was compassionate and dedicated to helping the homeless and the poor. In 1989 she went to Washington DC and rallied with thousands of others regarding the plight of the homeless in America. Doras received several awards, one of which in 1989 was the Bishop John Sullivan Award. Due to her husband's health she retired in 1992 to care for him until his death in 1997. Doras was a member of the Kingsville Christian Church and later joined the First Baptist Church in Holden. She was also a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau and Alumni of CMSU which is now UCM. Doras is survived by one daughter, Mary Kae Diaz and husband Richard, Independence, Missouri; One brother John Richard Duncan JR, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Two sisters Marcie Jackson Creede, Colorado; Bennie D. Skinner Grand Junction, Colorado; Six Grandchildren, and Four Great Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by One son, David Mahnken, One sister Betty Joe Duncan and One Grandchild Joseph McConnville. A memorial service will be held on Friday May 6, 2016, 11:00am at Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral Home with Pastor Justin Locke officiating. Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Doras Mahnken to Children's Mercy Hospital, KCMO.