By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A cotton wedding dress worn by 85-year-old Dorothy Youk’s mother, Mary Winkley Sandwell, now hangs in splendid condition on a mannequin at Marion Historical Museum.

Youk said her mother grew up at Aulne and was active in the Catholic Church there her entire life.

Youk said her mother’s hand-sewn dress was stored in a drawer in Mary Sandwell’s home for many years. It later rested in a drawer in Youk’s home. Now she is eliminating some of her possessions.

“I was trying to condense my things,” Youk said.

Some items are going to her children, Teresa of Kansas City, Jeff of Wichita, Justin of Marion, and Jarrod of Kansas City, but none especially wanted the dress.

Donating it to the museum was an easy decision. Her husband, Dennis Youk, was longtime president of the museum’s board of directors.

She’s certain her children agree with that choice.

“They’re sentimental kids, so I think they’re going to love the fact that it will be viewed and enjoyed by many people,” Youk said.

She’s sure her mother would be pleased with the donation as well.

“Mother would be — oh my gosh, overjoyed — if she knew it,” Youk said.

Youk is one of two children born to Mary and E.O. Sandwell.

Her brother was Ed Sandwell, longtime operator of the Sanitary Market on Main St. His son, John, now lives in Evansville, Indiana.