Mark Marion Doyen

Mark Marion Doyen, 94, of Bartlesville, OK passed away on December 14, 2023 after a brief illness. 

Born in Rice, KS on November 8, 1929, Mark was the youngest of Orville and Millie Doyen’s four sons.  His childhood included working on the family farm and the start of a life-long love of sports, playing baseball and basketball on local teams.  He graduated from Concordia High School in 1947.

An eye injury suffered while farming interrupted Mark’s pursuit of a college degree.  During this time, his brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Peggy, introduced Mark to their teacher co-worker, Marjorie Kling by setting them up on a blind date. Marj and Mark were married on June 24, 1956. Mark then completed his bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in 1957 and embarked on a 35-year career in secondary education, during which he also obtained a master’s degree from Kansas State.  He especially enjoyed coaching football, basketball, track and field, and cross-country at various high schools in northern Kansas.

Mark became a father in 1958 with the arrival of a daughter, Marla, followed by a son, Tim, in 1964.  The family resided in Barnes, KS and Effingham, KS while the children lived at home.  Mark and Marj moved to Norwich, KS in 1987 where they lived for 24 years before settling in Bartlesville, OK in 2011.

Mark was active in the community wherever he lived.  He was a charter member of the Barnes, Kansas Lions Club and remained a member of Lions Club International for the rest of his life.  He served in several leadership positions, including President of the Norwich and Bartlesville Lions Clubs, District Governor for Kansas District 17-SE, and President of the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation (KLSF).  The KLSF was a special passion where Mark worked to promote and expand used eyeglass donations and coordinated with several state prisons to do eyeglass refurbishment. Lions Club renamed the project the Mark Doyen Used Eyeglass Collection program in honor of his service.

After moving to Bartlesville, Mark and Marj especially enjoyed going to the Senior Citizen Center, where they made many new friends.  Mark served as President of the Washington County Adult Center providing leadership during a difficult time for the organization.

Mark had several hobbies and interests.  He liked to refinish and restore old furniture.  He loved to play cards and was always happy when he could play with family or friends, especially since he usually won.  He was a fan of many kinds of sports but could always be found rooting for the Kansas State Wildcats, the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs.  He also enjoyed recounting stories of the many teams he coached over the years.   

Mark was preceded in death by his wife Marj in 2020, his parents, and brothers and sisters-in-law Lee and Peggy, Ray and Peggy, and Ross and Katherine.  He is survived by his daughter Marla Benyshek (Wayne), his son Tim Doyen (Terri), four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and close friend, Connie Gage.

A memorial service for Mark will be held at 1:00pm on February 23, 2024 at East Cross Church in Bartlesville, OK.  Memorial donations in his name can be made to the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation c/o Lion Andy Hoedl, 15403 West 80th Place, Lenexa, Kansas 66219, or the Bartlesville Lions Charities, P.O. Box 2163, Bartlesville, Ok. 74005.