Doris June Dean, 92, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia St., Lenexa, KS. Private graveside services will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 9001 State Line Road #300, Kansas City, MO.
Born on September 5, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Walter and Marie (Cook) Shields, Doris filled her life with love, family, faith, and memories that will be cherished for generations. A devout Christian, she lived her faith through kindness, service, and unwavering love for those around her.
Doris loved selflessly and remained the constant guiding light of her family. Around her table, she was the heart of the family, lovingly known as Mom, Grandma, and Great-Great. Holidays were her favorite time of year, and as the ultimate host, she filled every gathering with warmth, generosity, food from the heart, and plenty of spirited games, which she always played to win. She showed up for her family through every season of life, never missing a recital, sports game, wedding, graduation, birthday, or any important event. Her love of bringing family together extended far beyond home. Doris visited every state and shared many of her travels with her children, grandchildren, siblings and good friends. Her adventures took her (plus her entire family) to a dude ranch in Arizona and the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, she saw the Olympics in Australia, tangoed in Argentina, deep sea fished in Panama at the Tropic Star, took each grandchild to Disney, and visited countless places in between. This inspired her family to explore the world and create treasured memories together. Her adventurous spirit, devotion to family, and boundless love will remain an enduring part of her legacy.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Dean, in 1998; her parents; and six siblings.
She is survived by her children, Pam and her husband, Bob Kennedy; Gene and his wife, Kay Dean; Randal and his wife, Elsie Dean; Duane and his wife, Tami Dean; and Jerry and his wife, Dana Dean; 23 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; her siblings, Debbie Newman and Billie Mark; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.