Mary Frances Harris Dohn

Mary Frances Harris Dohn died on December 17, 2015 in the same manner in which she lived most of her 90 years: quietly, peacefully, and with class and dignity. She was preceded in death by her two cherished sisters & her husband, who died in November 2011. She moved to Pensacola, FL in Jan 2013 to be near family. Education was very important to her, and her lifelong pursuit of education was encouraged by her father, John West Harris, a professor at Presbyterian College and Founder of the prestigious high school Beta Club, and her mother, Mary Moss Harris. She was born in Spartanburg, SC, and attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where she met & married her husband Carl Dohn, Sr. Following their marriage, Carl & Mary Frances moved to Macon, GA where she joined her husband in helping run Macon Cabinet Works, a family business began in 1886 and closed in 2007 upon her husband’s retirement. They were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia, teaching Sunday school classes and bible studies. Perhaps Mary Frances’ greatest legacy was igniting within her descendants a love of learning which has continued throughout her life. She always encouraged her children to follow their passions and as a result, two of her sons became physicians, and the third son went into health care finance. In fact, it was at parents’ weekend visitation to the Medical College of Georgia that she developed her wishes for her final gift of life: to give herself as an anatomical donation to the medical school. She is currently at the University of South Alabama Medical School in Mobile, Alabama, fulfilling this wish. She loved to read, often keeping eight or ten books going at a time. She was a fierce Scrabble opponent, and only the Lord knows how many thousands of “her stories” she read in her lifetime. Mary Frances is survived by her three sons: Carl W. Dohn, Jr, M.D., Henry H. Dohn, M.D, and William W. Dohn. She leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren who will all miss their “Gramama.” The family wishes to extend thanks to Bay Breeze ALF for their excellent care, and to Dr. Anita Westafer and her staff. Anyone wishing to do so may send a donation to either St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Tributes

Mary Frances Harris Dohn

June 1, 1925 - December 17, 2015