JEANNE ELAINE MAYFIELD
Jeanne Elaine Mayfield, age 79, of Baring, Missouri, passed away Saturday, October 19, 2024, at The Pines Retirement Center, in Kirksville.
Jeanne was born February 1, 1945, the daughter of Stanley and Velma Adams of Arbela. After attending Plum College Country School for grades 1-8, she went on to graduate with the Memphis High School class of 1962. Jeanne’s professional career started by attending the Northeast MO State Teacher’s College (Truman State University) and culminated with three degrees, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in elementary school administration, and an education specialist’s degree in administration. Only a few hours shy of a PhD, Jeanne decided that family and teaching came first. Her teaching career began in Pulaski, Iowa, teaching first grade students. Thereafter, her teaching years were spent in Scotland, Knox, and Adair counties, even teaching alongside her beloved sister, Karen Biggs, while in Memphis. Jeanne retired from Brashear elementary school in 1998 at which time she was the District Superintendent.
Jeanne loved the time spent in education with students and parents and made many precious friendships during her 32-year career. Her students undoubtedly recall “Ms. Mayfield” and her no-nonsense approach to education along with her subtle wit and humor. She belonged to the Missouri State Teachers Association, then the Missouri Retired Teachers Association following retirement in 1991. Jeanne also served as Director for Parents as Teachers for a number of years.
Jeanne was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of Arbela and longtime member of The Order of the Eastern Star of Missouri, Greensburg Chapter.
Jeanne married LP (Pete) Mayfield on March 1, 1964, in Memphis. Together, they spent the next 51 years farming in Scotland and Knox counties where in addition to crops and livestock, they also raised their daughters, Monica and Michele. Jeanne and Pete enjoyed numerous trips after her retirement “on the road” with friends, traveling in sunshine, rain, cold, and heat. Jeanne had a lifelong love of horses and spent many years riding and caring for her horses.
Jeanne was proceeded in death by her husband, Pete, in 2016, parents Stanley and Velma (Kapfer) Adams, in-laws Pete and Lillian (Hackett) Mayfield, grandparents Will and Nina (Hostadt) Adams, and Herbert and Abbie (Rice) Kapfer, brother-in-law Vaughn Biggs, and son-in-law Heath Zahn along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Surviving are daughters, Monica Zahn of Edina and Michele McLaren of Columbia; sister, Karen Biggs of Memphis; granddaughters, Kiley Marshall-Vandegriffe and husband Nick of Overland Park, KS, and Chelsea Zahn-Bringer and husband Garrett of LaGrange; and nephew, Brian Biggs, wife Lisa, and daughter Sydney of Mars, PA; along with several cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Hudson-Rimer Funeral Chapel in Edina. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. A private, family burial will be at the Greensburg Cemetery, at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Greensburg Cemetery in care of the Hudson- Rimer Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 1, Edina, MO 63537, or to the donor’s charity of choice.
