Edith Faye (Richardson) MITCHELL

MITCHELL, RICHARDSON, LANFEAR, ZIRKELBACH, HOLCOMB, BRADY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/20/2007 at 10:15:05

Edith Faye Mitchell, 89, departed this life and the ravages of Alzheimer's disease on Feb. 3, 2002, at a Boise, Idaho care center. Edith was born with twin sister Ethel on Oct. 25, 1912, in the family farmhouse near Martelle, Iowa, as the oldest of the seven children of Glenn and Winona Richardson. Edith graduated from the St. Luke's Methodist Hospital nursing program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1934 and was married to Yule M. Mitchell the following year in a union that lasted until his death 57 years later. After maintaining residences for short times in Goldfield, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minn., Edith and Yule established their home in 1939 in Cedar Rapids, where Edith lived until 1999 when she moved to Boise, Idaho to be close to her family.

Always a loving, nurturing mother and grandmother, Edith extended the benefit of her caring nature and formal training to parents, siblings and friends whenever need arose. Never at a loss for words she was a resourceful hostess, whether the visit was impromptu or planned, and "Edith's place" was a frequent stop for a bite to eat or a place of respite for family and friends. She shared her husband's fondness for collecting antique walnut furniture and was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, taking special delight in making gifts for the grandchildren. She was a longtime member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids.

She is survived by her son, Robert (Bob) Mitchell and his wife, Sharon; grandchildren, Jill Lanfear, Jennifer Mitchell and Lee Mitchell, all of Boise; brother, Delbert Richardson of Denver, Colo.; and sister, June Zirkelbach of Center Junction, Iowa; as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by infant daughter, Martha Sue; her husband; brothers, Wilmer and Clair Richardson; twin sister, Ethel Holcomb; and sister, Beryl Brady. A graveside memorial service is being planned for a later date at the time of inurnment at Linn Grove Cemetery nearby both her birthplace and the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church which was central in the life of the Richardson family.

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA)
February 22, 2002