Ophelia Faye (Long) Mitchell 1892-1985

Ophelia Faye Mitchell was born January 27, 1892, and died April 8, 1985 at the age of 93.

Faye was born in Waynesville, the daughter of Joe Mart and Margaret Logan Long. In 1908 she married Edward Thomas Mitchell and eventually became the mother of a daughter and two sons--Irene, Kenneth, and Howard.

A hardworking woman with a reputation as an excellent cook, Faye took in boarders to help make ends meet while raising her family. Edward Mitchell died in 1939 and Faye decided to take a course in hotel management to prepare herself for a second career. She obtained a job as housemother at Fort Leonard Wood; then she worked in a similar capacity for universities in Kentucky, Columbia, Missouri and Rolla, Missouri.

After she retired she moved to Springfield and enjoyed extensive travels and tours through 48 states with her sister, Lida Joyner. In 1974, when failing health made it impossible for her to live alone, she requested that she be placed in the Masonic Home in St. Louis. She spent her last decade there, comfortable in the security and independence that she had worked all her life to achieve.

Faye was a good and faithful member of the First Baptist Church for nearly all her life. In addition, she was in the Order of the Eastern Star for over 60 years.

Faye was good company. Always mentally alert, she kept up with current events and politics through reading and watching television. She loved to do handwork and was an excellent seamstress. Right up to the end she maintained high standards and pride in her personal appearance and her housekeeping. She was never afraid to try anything new and, at the age of 85, even developed a taste for pizza and tacos.

Granny-Mom, as Faye was known to her family, was preceded in death by one son, Lee Howard. She will be fondly remembered by her daughter, Irene Morgan, and son, Kenneth Mitchell, both of Waynesville; her grandsons--Bill Morgan of Waynesville, John and Russell Mitchell of Minneapolis and Steve Mitchell of California; her great granddaughter, Julie Morgan of Waynesville; her sister, Grace Black of Lebanon.

Funeral services were held Thursday, April 11, 1985 at 2:00 p.m. in the Waynesville Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Othal Hodson officiating.

Music was provided by Doris Davenport, organist.

Serving as escorts were: Champ Collier, Jim Dodds, Byron Eldredge, Norman Humphreys, George Lane, and Jim Mitchell.

Burial was in the Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Waynesville Memorial Chapel.