Edith Ora Mitchell was born in a rural home near Mt. Zion, Oklahoma on January 16, 1923 the daughter of William R. Mitchell and Minnie Lee (Roberts) Mitchell. She could not wait to begin her life in McCurtain County, so she was born several weeks premature. She often told how she was wrapped in a small blanket, placed in a shoebox and kept warm by the wood fired kitchen oven to survive. She grew into a healthy child, the youngest of six surviving siblings. She had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. She attended Mt. Zion School and at the age of 16 went to college in Durant with her sister, Gladys. She earned a Bachelor degree and later a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She taught for 42 years, mostly in Valliant Oklahoma and mostly the third grade. She retired 34 years ago. She was a member of this First Baptist Church for over 60 years and sang in the choir many of those years. She was married to William A. McAfee for 27 years. He was a Vocational Agriculture instructor. Later she married Joe T. Powell, a school administrator, and he preceded her in death in 2002. She loved her garden, flowers, recipes and mostly visiting with her many friends. She was respected by her fellow teachers and fondly remembered by her many students. She is survived by her son, Dr. William M. McAfee, his wife Mary Ann and their son Christopher, nieces and nephews, Bill Bain of Valliant, Dorothy Canary of Newcastle, Carolyn Mitchell Johnson of Avinger, Texas, Stan Snell of Fort Mills, SC, Edith Karen Thurmond of Oklahoma City, OK, Billy Mitchell of Ft. Smith, AR, many great-nieces and great-nephews, including Jan Tankenton, Brad Bain and Barth Bain and her many students. She passed away the evening of November 21, 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and will be memorialized in her beloved First Baptist Church in Valliant Oklahoma and laid to rest beside her second husband in the Valliant Cemetery.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
November 26, 2017
Friend
EVELYN GRAVES
WITH FOND AND LOVING MEMORIES OF EDITH FOR SO MANY YEARS... MY LOVE AND PRAYERS ARE WITH DR. MITCHELL MCAFEE AND HIS FAMILY DURING THIS SAD TIME OF BEREAVEMENT. EVELYN GRAVES
November 25, 2017
Friend
Helen (Baker) Foglesong
Ms. Edith was a very nice lady from our Mt. Zion Community, just southeast of Valliant, OK. She was very well loved by many. May she rest in peace, and thoughts and prayers for everyone in her family...❤
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results
Nov
24
Funeral services provided by:
Miller and Miller Funeral Home - Valliant201 East Wilson PO Box 732, Valliant, OK 74764
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more