Ann Kraus

Ann Dougherty Kraus, beloved wife of the late William Kraus, MD, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend of many, died on May 6, 2024 at age 95 surrounded by her children while listening to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”. Ann always did it her way. A resident of Dallas since 1959, she was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky before attending and graduating second in her class at Western Kentucky University. She joined the Red Cross after college and undertook an adventure few young women would consider in 1952, accepting a posting in Japan to help care for wounded Korean War veterans. Her father forbade her to go, but she went anyway. There, she served as a social worker in military hospitals in Osaka and Tokyo. After she returned, she met a brilliant young German doctor named William Kraus, then serving as a Captain in the US Army, and they married in Verdun France in 1956. It was an adventurous beginning to a wonderful 37- year marriage.

Ann and Bill lived in Boston while he completed his cardiology training at Harvard before moving to Dallas. Ann expertly juggled raising four children, supporting Bill in his career as Chief of Cardiology at St. Paul Hospital, cooking gourmet meals and actively volunteering in many organizations. A member of the Dallas County Medical Alliance and the Medical Center Board, Ann was most proud of her civic service at St. Mark’s School of Texas, where she served as President of the Parent’s Club and as a member of the Board of Trustees. She was also a member of the Lakewood Country Club and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish for many years.

A great conversationalist, entertainer and cook, Ann, along with Bill, maintained a large and diverse group of friends, whom she treasured spending time with. Her children happily served as guinea pigs while she experimented with delicious dishes for her legendary dinner parties. So many of her children’s friends shared the family dinner table at her home in Lakewood where she lived for the last 63 years of her life. Her family was her priority, and she greatly loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Ann is survived by her dear sister, Margie Joy (Bob), her children, Greg Kraus (Rhonda), Peter Kraus (Lisa), Sharon Kraus (partner Chad Moyer) and Stephen Kraus (Amanda Shin). She is also survived by six grandsons, Adam Kraus (Camille), Ethan Kraus (Evan), William Kraus, Nicholas Kraus, Jack Kraus, Paul Kraus, and two great grandchildren, Elena, and Elijah. A memorial service and reception celebrating her life will take place at Sparkman-Hillcrest Chapel at 2:00 pm Saturday, May 11th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to North Texas Food Bank in Ann’s memory.