Mary Denison (Bills) Frost

Mary Denison (Bills) Frost was born 3 June 1932 in Champaign, IL to Robert Wesley and Virginia Lanius (Applegate) Bills, and died 28 April 2026 in Medford, OR.

She grew up in Urbana, IL and enjoyed Girl Scouts and family vacations to lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan. She missed her father terribly when he was deployed to the South Pacific for 2 years during World War II.

Mary attended Urbana High School where she was active in many clubs and activities and was salutatorian of her graduating class in 1950. She then attended the University of Illinois, B.S. 1954, and was a member of the sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.

Mary married the love of her life, Orcutt William “Jack” Frost, Jr., on 22 June 1954 at the Presbyterian church in Urbana, IL. They set out on their life together with a move to Salem, OR, where she taught science at Leslie Junior High School, 1954-1956. Mary then stayed home to nurture their four children.

In 1963, they moved to Anchorage, AK and Mary taught wilderness skills to her children at their rustic cabin outside of nearby Wasilla. She attended Alaska Methodist University, M.A.T., 1968 and taught 500 first graders in the Anchorage Public Schools, 1976-1998.

Mary was active in PEO, serving in almost every officer role and traveling one year to the PEO International Convention in Kansas City. She also enjoyed studying Japanese well into her nineties.

Mary & Jack had many wonderful adventures together, traveling to the Midwest, New England, Japan, the UK, Europe, New Zealand, Grand Cayman Island, Siberia, and on expedition cruises along the Aleutian Islands. In 1999, they retired to Medford, OR. In 2022, they celebrated 68 years of marriage.

Mary is survived by her children Carol D. Frost (Eric Nye), William O. Frost, Susan M. Frost (Michael Bennett), and Robert W. Frost (Cathleen Clore); grandchildren Charles Nye, Elizabeth Frost Bennett, Ellen Nye (Garrett Allington), John Frost Bennett, Elisa Frost, William Frost, Nathaniel Frost, Laura Frost (Brennan Langman), and Noah Frost; and sister Priscilla (Bills) Bailey. She was preceded in death by her parents & her husband.

A private graveside service and interment was held at Eagle Point National Cemetery, Eagle Point, OR on 15 May 2026.