Mary Lou Travis

Mary Lou Travis, age 93, passed away on July 9, 2014 at a local care center. She was a loving, caring lady. She influenced her family while serving as wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend. Mary Lou was born on December 8, 1920 to the late John and Rebecca (Hanson) Cline and lived most of her life in Wichita, Kansas. She was widowed at age 30 with three daughters. She lost her husband, Bryan Taylor, a WWII veteran, to a farming accident. She went back to Wichita State University to complete her BA degree in Elementary Education. After five years, she married Duane Travis. Mary Lou began her 32 year teaching career with the Wichita School System. At age 60, she returned to WSU to complete a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Mary Lou and Duane retired to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they resided for 22 years. She was active in the Bella Vista Community Church. In 2010, Mary Lou moved to Colorado Springs to live near her daughter. She lived in assisted living until the last year, when she moved to skilled nursing and memory care. She is survived by her daughters: Val Ogburn (Jerry) of Palm Springs, California; Jan Tilbury (Bob) of Monument, Colorado; and Sheryl West (Hugh) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and her sister, Wanda Sohn of St. Louis, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Oliver Bryan Taylor and Duane Travis. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Mountain View Mortuary, 2350 Montebello Square Drive. A luncheon reception will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to the Stephen Ministry of First Presbyterian Church. Please use “Stephen Ministry” in the memo line with check made out to First Presbyterian Church, 219 E Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. Memorials may also be made to the Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E Lancashire Boulevard, Bella Vista, Arkansas 72714. Her core belief in Jesus as her Lord and Savior kept her grounded and centered in life situations. We will remember her smile, her laugh, her wisdom and strength of character that defined her as a person throughout her life. Mom’s favorite verse was: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path.”