Dorene Applegate

Elsie Dorene Cook was born January 17th, 1929 at her great aunt Lewetta Brown's home in Wellington, Kansas to Elmer and Nina Cook. She departed this earth on February 14th, 2025 at the age of 96.
She was the fourth of seven children. The Cook family lived 3 miles north of Mayfield and walked a mile to attend a 1 room schoolhouse. She joined 4H as a child and continued throughout her adolescence, then later was a 4H leader for her own children. She graduated from Wellington High School in 1946. During her time there, she had the female lead in the Junior class play "Anne of Green Gables", and was a member of the Acapella choir and girls chorus.
After high school, she started a job as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank. She was introduced to Robert Applegate, whom she married on August 21st, 1949 at the First Christian Church in Wellington. They were married almost 52 years before he passed in 2001.
Together they welcomed 5 children, and moved to Mayfield where Robert farmed. She was baptized in 1953 at the First Christian Church, where she continued to be an active member throughout her life.
In 1968, at the age of 39, with 5 children at home, Dorene began commuting to Wichita State University, and in 1972 she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Education, Cum Laude. She went on to teach 4th grade at Clearwater Elementary school for the next 20 years, retiring in 1992.
In 1988, Robert and Dorene moved to Wellington. Upon her retirement, she was able to enjoy a number of hobbies. She became an avid golfer, a talented quilter and musician, and a creative seamstress. She completed the 4 year course Effective Family Ministry through the First Christian Church. She loved to travel, paint watercolors and even learned how to make stained glass.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Robert Applegate, daughter Darla Callender, sons-in-law Don Dunn and Rodney Byers, 1 grandson Jarred Bohannon, as well as her parents, Elmer and Nina (Lamb) Cook, siblings Billy Wayne, Betty Joan, Glen Dale, Albert Elmer Jr., and Nancy.
She is survived by son David (Nadine) Applegate, of Broken Arrow, OK, daughters Dianne Dunn of Jenks, OK, Deena Byers of South Haven, KS, Dixie (Brian) Bohannon of Tulsa, OK, and sister Donna Yearout of Mayfield, KS, as well as 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.
There will be a visitation with the family at Cornejo Funeral home on Thursday, February 20th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at the First Christian Church in Wellington on Friday, February 21st at 10:00 a.m. with graveside service following at Sumner Memorial Gardens in Wellington.
A memorial has been established at the First Christian Church to benefit Camp Tawakoni. Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home.
Share a memory, leave condolences, or sign her digital tribute wall at www.cornejofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington, Kansas.