Dorothy L. Currence, 95, of Manhattan, Kansas died on Saturday, October 1 at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community.

Dorothy was born in Woodston, Kansas on September 25, 1916 to William "Dutch" Stehley and Marie Osborn Stehley. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1933 and from Ft. Hays State University in 1938 with a degree in Business Administration.

She married Dana Blaine Currence on July 31st, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri. Blaine and Dorothy lived all over the country, moving as Blaine's career at General Motors progressed, including Denver, New York, and Chicago before retiring to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas in 1989. They never had any children, but had a true partnership and rich marriage, traveling all over the world and spending time with their many friends and extended family. Blaine preceded her in death in May, 2001.

As she often said, "Dorothy came back to Kansas" in 2005, moving into Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community to be closer to her brother's family.

Dorothy was a talented artist, studying art and taking classes wherever they lived, including the Chicago Art Institute. She had art shows in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and was featured in a showing of Meadowlark resident artists at the Manhattan Arts Center in 2005. Ahead of her time, she was also a savvy and meticulous accountant, demanding equal pay for equal work at one of the accounting firms she worked at while living in New York. Dorothy also loved learning. She studied art, religion, Spanish language and culture, philosophy, and history. Generous and opinionated – funny and smart – curious, and optimistic, she will be greatly missed.

In addition to her husband Blaine, she was preceded in death by her siblings: Madeline Graham and Jim Stehley of Texas, and Don Stehley, of Manhattan, Kansas.

Survivors include sisters-in-law Judy Stehley of Manhattan, Kansas and Donna Stehley of Snyder, Texas. Nieces and nephews: Jill Harrison of Prairie Village, Kansas, Jay Stehley, of Wichita., Kansas, Jamie Hall of Snyder, Texas, Jacque Wallace of Buffalo, New York, Calen Currence of Elgin, Illinois, David Codding of Artesia, New Mexico, Peggy Codding of Boston, MA, Barry Currence of Longmont, Colorado, and many great nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, October 17th, at the Fairview Cemetery in Phillipsburg, Kansas, with Pastor Chris Davis officiating.

A memorial fund has been established in Dorothy's honor benefiting the Kansas Arts Foundation. Contributions can be sent to: Kansas Arts Foundation, c/o The Trust Company of Manhattan, 800 Poyntz Ave. P.O. Box 1806, Manhattan, KS 66502.