Mary Lou Garton, 1931-2009: Continuing the Legacy  

There are individuals who come along every once in a while, who quietly touch the lives of others with far greater impact than anyone expected. Including themselves. This was Mary Lou Garton. It was with the birth of her first child, a daughter born deaf, that her life headed in a direction that years later would recognize her as a pioneer in deaf education. This new family moved to Olathe, Kansas, so her daughter could attend the Kansas School for the Deaf.Though many schools for the deaf did not incorporate sign language in classroom instruction, Mary Lou  understood the importance of communication with her daughter. And so she learned sign language. But it did not stop there, for Mary Lou was an educator and passionate about helping others. Thus began her lifetime dedication to helping others - parents, community  people, educators -  learn to communicate effectively with the Deaf. Bill Garton, her husband of 59 years sums it up best, “Olathe is probably one of the most friendly places for deaf people in the United States and it came from her.”It was through Bill and Mary Lou’s love and support that the Deaf Cultural Center came to be in Olathe. It has also been noticed that the mission statement of the DCC could have been written for about her life: “ . . . To serve as a community resource, bringing deaf history and deaf culture to life, and uniting deaf and hearing communities in a common bond of understanding and appreciation.”This is the legacy that will be continued - a tribute to a great friend and passionate    educator. You will be missed, but never forgotten.