Maxine E. Mitchell

Maxine E. Mitchell of Emporia, died on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.  She was 91.

Maxine was born on December 6, 1932, in Clay Center, Kansas, the daughter of Leon B. and Frieda E. Weiss White.  She married John James (Jack) Mitchell on June 11, 1955, in Clay Center, Kansas.  He died on November 18, 2009, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Maxine was a lifelong educator. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the College of Emporia. She taught music in Wakefield, Kansas and in Emporia for Logan Avenue, Maynard and Village Elementary Schools. She also taught at Emporia High School.  Maxine received the Apple Award for excellence in teaching in 1997 and retired that same year.

Maxine was a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church.  At Westminster Presbyterian Church she served as Choir Director, Youth Choir “Sing Thing” director, Elder and Clerk of Session. Maxine directed choirs for St. David’s Day and Church Women United concerts.  Maxine was an active member of the College of Emporia Alumni Association and served on the Board.  She was a member of PEO and was the Mayor of Credo Senior Home in Basehor, Kansas.  She was well known for her crescent rolls and for making “Schnitta”.  Maxine’s pride and joy was her family.  She and the love of her life, Jack, were faithful supporters and attended concerts, musicals and games for their children and grandchildren.  They also enjoyed traveling together after their retirement and serving their church.

Surviving family members include her son, John James (Kim) Mitchell, Jr. of Basehor, Kansas; daughters, Jaclyn (Ron) France of Gastonia, North Carolina, Kristin (Mark) Swezey of Overland Park, Kansas, and Lisa (Mark) Paige of Independence, Kansas; grandchildren, Whitney (Ben) Crary, Cassity (Ross) Wooten, James Nathan (Paige) Mitchell, Erin (Jonathan) Newell, Jaxon Paige, Scott (Alessandra) Swezey, Patrick Swezey, and Kelly Swezey; great-grandchildren, Lincoln Crary, Harper Crary, Aubrey France, Tyler Wooten, Lindsey Wooten, and Aurora Swezey.  She is also survived by cousins, nieces and a nephew.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and great-grandson Hunter John Crary.

Cremation is planned with a Witness to the Resurrection Service on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus, 1702 W 15th Avenue, Emporia, Kansas.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 and continue after the service with lunch served. There will be a private family burial at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia.  Memorial contributions to the College of Emporia Scholarship Fund; Emporia Presbyterian Church Music Fund; Independence Children’s Summer Theatre or Shawnee Mission South Theatre Department can be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.