Melva Jo Dortland

Melva Jo Dortland, 94, of Gorham, Kansas, died on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Melva was born on November 03, 1930, in Luray, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin and Josephine (Shiroky) Schurr. As a young girl she lived in Luray and graduated from Luray High School before moving to Russell, Kansas. She was united in marriage to Herbert J. “Junior” Black on March 05, 1949, in Great Bend, Kansas, from this union they were blessed with 4 children Cathy, Steve, Roger and Beverly. Herbert died on March 27, 1964, in a tragic car accident. Melva found love again and was united in marriage to Elmer Dortland on April 20, 1965, in Gorham, Kansas, and from this union they were blessed with 2 children JoAnn and Darrell. Elmer preceded her in death on October 12, 2010. She was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church of Gorham. She was very active in her church life. She was a member of the Gorham parish council, the Daughters of Isabella, President of the Salina Diocese Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) and the first women in the Gorham church to be a lecture and eucharistic minister. Her faith in God was incredible.

Later in life she enjoyed visiting with family and friends, she loved to talk, watching news and sports on TV, playing cards, doing puzzles, and her favorite getting Dairy Queen. Most of all she loved her family. She was a strong woman who was there to support her family through every step of life. She loved to cook, care, play, listen, and watch them. She was proud of her children and the their families.

Surviving family includes her daughter Cathy Jacobs (Steve) of Gorham, Kansas, son Roger Black (Trudy) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, daughter Beverly Driscoll of Hoisington, Kansas, daughter JoAnn Kilian (Stuart) and son Darrell Dortland (Kayla) all of Gorham, Kansas; brother George Schurr (Pat) and sister Donna Frederick all of Salina, Kansas and sister Eva Jean Hackerott of Topeka, Kansas; 13 grandchildren Brenda Slattery, Kevin Jacobs, Stacey McKenna, Kyle Jacobs, Jaime Liudahl, Sarah Rosa, Ben Black, Chris and David Driscoll, Cameron Kilian, Joseph, Tiffany and Camille Dortland and many great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 husbands, son Steve Black, brother Richard Schurr and granddaughter Valerie Boomhower.

A celebration of the funeral mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Gorham, Kansas. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gorham, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Friday, June 20, 2025, at the mortuary. The vigil and rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Friday evening, June 20, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Gorham with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gorham, Kansas. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.