We celebrate the life and gift of Dorris Parke Schrank, Mommy Dorris (D), our wonderful mother, mentor, and friend. As we think about Mommy D, the words that come to mind include loving, caring, giving, working, inspiring, and laughing. She almost made it to the age of 100, she was 99 when she peacefully went to sleep for the last time, under a beautiful full moon, on October 15, 2016. She was a retired Austin High School math teacher, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and lifelong Longhorn. She was born February 6, 1917 in Kyle, Texas. Her parents were Edna B. Hooker Parke and Oscar G Parke II. Her sister Mary B. Parke Hall is living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and she was preceded in death by her brother Oscar G. Parke III and her husband Dr. A.R. Schrank. She is survived by her son Kenton Parke Schrank MD and his wife Andrea (of Pottsboro, Texas); daughter Karon Schrank Simpson MD, and her husband J. Scott Simpson MD (of Austin, Texas); grandchildren Lt.Col. Amber E. Schrank Ritenour MD, and her husband Lt.Col. Josh Ritenour MD, Travis Parke Schrank MD, and his wife Yana Mikhaylov MD, Madison Paige Schrank, Gayle Simpson Patel MS, and her husband Niraj P. Patel MS MBA, Kristi Simpson Plotnick MHA, and her husband Jonathan D. Plotnick BA, Sean S. Simpson MS (almost MD) and his wife Abbie Arnold Simpson PA; and great grandchildren Abigail Ritenour, Caleb Ritenour, Amelia Patel, Lila Patel, and Addison Plotnick. Dorris grew up in Kyle, Texas and graduated from Texas State University, majoring in english and mathematics. Her first job was in Kerrville, Texas, as a math teacher, where she was only two years older than her students. She continued to teach math at University Junior High, in Austin, Texas, where she reconnected with and married Auline Raymond Schrank, and helped him complete his PhD at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Dr. Schrank continued as a biology professor at UT, where he later served as the Dean of Natural Sciences. Once married, Dorris spent most of her time raising her two children and supporting UT. Later, she returned to teaching after her children were in school. She taught math including trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus to many of the Austin High School students for 20 years. She was a tough, but fair, teacher and challenged her many students (including her children and their friends) to do well in her advanced math classes, and then their chosen professions. She was always the kindest teacher and was loved and respected by many people. She loved her family dearly, and will be missed and remembered by them for years to come, as well as by her many friends and former students. Despite her advanced age and other challenges, Dorris continued to care for herself, home, and finances independently, until two months prior to her death. Kent, Karon, and their families would like to invite you to remember Dorris and celebrate her life with them on November 12, 2016, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm, at 16407 Kidd Lane, Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions or memorials may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church or the UT General Scholarship Fund.
