Doris Cotton Mauk

Doris Cotton Mauk, 94, of Bella Vista, Arkansas passed away December 29, 2013. Doris was born April 24, 1919, the 7th and last child of Alfred & Estelle Kariker Hedrick, in the Columbia community, northwest of Crescent, Oklahoma. She attended Central Grade School and Fogarty Junior High in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Her high school years were spent in Dover Oklahoma where she graduated with the Class of 1936. She married Ted Cotton on July 3, 1937 and they started their life together in Crescent, Oklahoma. As a couple, they were very active in Crescent. Ted had a presence in the business community operating Ted's Auto Supply, owned rental property, raised cattle & horses, and was active in city government. They had 3 children, Owen, Larry & Cynthia. Besides being busy parents, Ted was active in Lions and FFA, while Doris was involved in Eastern Star, PTA, and the Cub & Girl Scouts. In March, 1956, the family joined the Catholic faith and attended St. Margaret's Mary Catholic Church in Crescent where Ted & Doris were involved for many years. Doris was an excellent homemaker and host. Being witty, intelligent, and a great conversationalist her and Ted's home was always a pleasant place to spend time. Doris was an avid reader and letter writer, and kept up with current events into her nineties by reading the newspapers every day. Their children graduated from Crescent High School. Larry is a graduate of Central State and Cynthia & Owen graduated from Oklahoma State. Doris was active in seeing her children got a good start in reading and study habits. From 1960 to 1967, when Crescent Schools did not have kindergarten classes, Doris taught a private kindergarten in a building at their residence. The Montessori method of teaching was employed and the school was well received by parents & children. Doris had always been interested in the care of the elderly and took a nurses aide training course at the Guthrie hospital. During the summer of 1968, Doris & Cynthia, who was studying sociology at Oklahoma State and interested in geriatrics, worked at Four Seasons Nursing Home in Guthrie, Oklahoma and found it rewarding. In 1970, Four Seasons asked Doris to become their ward clerk and she worked there for 2 years before leaving to assist with the care of her mother. On September 26, 1970, daughter Cynthia died in an automobile accident, along with her fiance'e, Doug Mack. The couple graduated from O.S.U. that summer and planed to wed during the Thanksgiving holidays. Ted and Doris sold their Crescent business in 1976, moved to Tulsa for 3 years, then to Guthrie in 1980. Ted suffered a stroke in February, 1982 and died from heart disease October 26, 1982. Doris had always enjoyed the Ozarks and moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas during the fall of 1983, building a new home in 1984. On August 25, 1985 she married James Mauk, who had been a classmate at Dover High School 50 years before. They had a pleasant life together until James passed April 22, 1992. She continued to live in Bella Vista and was active at St. Bernard Catholic Church, also Benton Country Historical Society and enjoyed visits to both Arizona & Oklahoma to visit family and friends. In 2008, she moved into an independent living facility in Rogers, Arkansas made new friends and lived there until her passing. Her parents & brothers (Earl, Vern, Ralph) and sisters (Opal, Elsie, Nellie) all preceded her in death. Survivors include her sons & daughter in laws, Larry (Karen) Cotton, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Owen (Barbara) Cotton of Phoenix, Ariz., grandchildren Carla Cotton, Ted (Gerri) Cotton, Phoenix, Jason Cotton, Tulsa and great grandson Jason Cotton Jr., Tulsa, and many nieces and nephews, mostly of North Central Oklahoma. Private family services will be held in Logan County at a later date. Donations in her honor can be made to your favorite charity. Doris was well loved by all and will be missed by her family & friends.