Elaine (Wood) Mitchell (91) was born March 8, 1924 to Joe Wood and Audra Warren Wood in Iconium, Missouri She passed from her earthly life to her heavenly eternal life on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, surrounded by her family after sudden heart failure.
Elaine married Loren “Mitch” Claborn Mitchell on May 26, 1951 in a beautiful military wedding in Greenville, South Carolina. She immensely enjoyed sharing in her husbands 30 year Air Force career, traveling and living in many parts of the world. Upon his retirement as a pilot in 1972, she and Mitch moved to Neosho, Missouri where they spent the rest of their lives. They celebrated their 50th anniversary just prior to Mitch’s death in 2002. Elaine and Mitch were wonderful parents to two daughters whom they loved dearly.
Elaine was an educator with a lifetime teaching certificate, beginning her teaching career at the age of 17. At the same time, she was a “Professional student” and always found ways to make learning fun. She was a woman of incredile hospitality. Reading, sewing and collecting articles or pictures, especially of people hugging, were fulfilling past times for her, but her greatest joy was spending time in conversation with those she loved.
Elaine radiated Christ’s love in all she did because she trusted in Jesus as her Savior as a young woman. The fruit of her walk with Jesus was warmth that led anyone who met Elaine to immediatley love her. Many people considered her their best friend, and several friends named their daughter after her. She became a surrogate sister, aunt, mother and grandother to numerouse loved ones. She was a “giver” in many senses of the word, especially in the areas of wisdom and time. She constantly looked for ways to help people.
Letter writing was nearly a daily activity as she used her gift of encouagement to pen words that blessed many. Greatest of all endeavors, Elaine was faithful in her daily prayer time for her family and friends. Truly, she leaves the legacy of Christ-like love. br>
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents: her husband, Mitch; her brother, Jack Wood and brother-in-law, Charles Sheldon.
She is survived by her sister, Jean Sheldon of Osceola, Missouri; sister-in-law, Maxine Wood of Versailles, Missouri; two daughters and their husbands, Ann and Jim Bollinger of Neosho, Missouri and Michelle and Dan Dellinger of Denver, Colorado; four grandchildren, Rebecca Dellinger, Chiree Bollinger, Nathan Bollinger and wife Katie, Rachel Burek and husband Brad as well as her four great-grandchildren, Coen Burek, Cason Burek, Caleb Bollinger, Grace Bollinger and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
What a blessing it was to have known Elaine Mitchell! She truly was an amazing woman of God!
Leave a Reply