M. DEVON MIXER

M. DEVON MIXER M. Devon Mixer, 88, of Blue Springs, Mo., passed away in his home on Thursday, January 9, 2025. He was born in Clayton, Ill., on March 31, 1936, a son of Alva and Opal (Wisely) Mixer. He married V. Dayle (Selby) on June 14, 1959, at Vermont Street United Methodist Church in Quincy, Ill. As a Unity High School graduate, he attended Western Illinois University before starting his own construction business. He built several houses in the Payson Heights (Lake Drive) subdivision in Quincy before concentrating his efforts in pouring concrete foundations primarily for Ken Bigelow Realty. In 1985 he sold the concrete business and moved to Blue Springs where he built and ran multiple self-storage units in Harrisonville, Holden and Grain Valley, Mo., and performed home repairs and remodels including his own homes. Devon had a voracious appetite for U.S. and world history which found he and Dayle traveling to all 50 states, Europe, Scandinavia, South America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the Baltic States. As an amateur photographer, he beautifully captured their travels and Dayle scrapbooked them. He also captured and exhibited agriculture scenes and barns winning many awards and being a guest exhibitor at Agriculture Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kan. When they weren't traveling, he and Dayle enjoyed attending plays, symphonies, Big Red Case IH Tractor Shows and Threshing Reunions, civil war round tables and visiting art exhibits and museums (which would take him all day to read every sign while others were done in three hours). Devon was a Master Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite. Family and friends were an important part of his life. He was a kid at heart and enjoyed NERF gun wars and getting down on the floor playing games with his grandkids and great-grandkids. He also took great joy coordinating and hosting his cousin's family reunions. And if he was on a trip near family or friends, he was likely to take a detour to stop and visit for a bit. Devon also loved gardening and sharing the fruits of his labor with his family and friends. In addition to his wife Dayle, he is survived and will be dearly missed by two daughters, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Deanne Stegeman of Glen Carbon, Ill., and her daughter Andrea (Josh) Fowler and son Karl Stegeman; Debra (Jerry) Rose of Payson, Ill., and her daughter's family Brenda (Brandon), Caden and Jackson Leppin and her son's family David (Angie) and Sawyer Rose; two sisters-in-law, Myrna Mixer and Carol Selby, numerous nieces and cousins and his beloved cat Tommy. Devon was preceded in death by his parents, father-and mother-in-law Forrest Selby and Ginny Selby-Campbell, stepfather-in-law Noel Campbell, brother Darrell Mixer, brother-in-law Ken Selby, sister-in-law Suzy (Larry) Pepperdine and son-in-law Rick Stegeman. Friends and family are invited to Devon's visitation on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Blue Springs followed by a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. and a luncheon to follow. Pastor Colin Brown will officiate. Additionally, a reception/celebration of life will be held in Quincy on April 4, 2025, location and time to be determined. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers and staff of Assisting Hands Lee's Summit, Interim Hospice Overland Park and Cedarhurst of Blue Springs for the excellent care provided over the past year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Shriner's Children Hospital St. Louis or Agriculture Hall of Fame. Neptune Society of Kansas City is handling arrangements.