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Mildred E. Livingston was born January 14, 1913, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the daughter of Charles C. Whistler and Clara Quolke Whistler. She passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Deerfield in New Richmond, Wisconsin where she lived for 17 years.
Mildred graduated from Central High School in 1930, where she was a member of the state championship Debate Team her senior year and a member of the honor society.
Following high school she worked in the public library in Muskogee. Encouraged to go to college and get a library science degree, she entered Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, graduating in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree. Following graduation, she accepted a position on the staff of the University Library.
Mildred married Charles L. Livingston on October 7, 1937, in her parents’ home in Muskogee. They then lived in Enid while Charles finished course work in the Graduate Seminary of Phillips University. Mildred was a very supportive ministers’ wife. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School as well as being active in the Woman’s Fellowship Groups.
She spent her life nurturing the interests and talents of her children. She made family camping trips to the Black Hills and Rocky Mountains possible with her organizational skills. When her children were grown, she accepted a volunteer position at the Iowa Braille School in Vinton, Iowa, where her education and skills were quickly recognized. She learned to type Braille so blind children could read the words with their fingers. She also worked with the children. Her talents led to her being hired by the school where she remained until she retired.
Mildred was a voracious reader who believed in public libraries. She was an accomplished seamstress, a fine knitter, and a quilter. Wherever she lived she grew a flower garden and loved watching birds. She was a loving grandmother who always enjoyed having her grandchildren come for visits.
Generous with her time she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was a mentor to elementary school students. She organized a program that helped migrant workers wives in Scottsbluff, Nebraska learn to use sewing machines and material so they could make clothing they needed.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her husband, Charles, two grandsons, (Bart and Tony), and the wife of another grandchild (Samantha)
She is survived by her children; Nancy Livingston, Columbus, OH; David (Sharon) Livingston, Kokomo, IN; Clara (Vic)Weyland, Roberts, WI
Six grandchildren: Elizabeth Ramsey, Ridgeway, OH; Melissa Vigneaux, Ozark, MO; Nickolas Livingston, Kokomo, IN; William Smoot, Duluth, MN; Paul Smoot, Converse, TX; Elizabeth Bolt, Vestavia, AL.
11 Great Grandchildren: Alex, Jackie, Connor, Noah, Cassidy, Maggie, Ava, Aria, Scarlett, Cooper and Parker.
Cremation provided by Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremations Services.
3 Comments
Clara and Nancy, your mom was a beautiful soul who I will remember because of her faith, courage and strength. I remember treasure the journal she kept for meaningful moments and, the time she shared those with me, her attendance at the Transtion group and Bible studies at the Deerfield while I served as chaplain there. I will most remember her sharing during our retreats for residence and the stories she told of her life. What an amazing woman! What a woman of strength! What a woman of faith. She will always be a part of my life and life story. Thank you for sharing her with us. May God bless you and your family at this time of both sadness and joy, for she is finally resting in peace.
Your mother was a great friend of my mother, Mabel Paffel, as they resided at The Deerfield. Many evenings as I stopped by I would find the two ladies hiding out in some corner discussing the problems of the world.
Mildred touch so many lives and was loved by everyone.
When I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mildred at The Deerfield, I think she was only 94 years old. I believe it was around her 100th birthday we talked about her purpose and why she has lived this long. She explained her purpose was to show her children and grandchildren how to age with grace and dignity. And boy, did she live her purpose well! She will forever be in my heart as one of the many special people I had the pleasure of knowing and serving.
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