Olive “June” Mayhew, a lifelong resident of Rooks County, Kansas, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 102 years old. She was born to Ernest and Lillie Blanche (Allstot) Darland in Codell, Kansas on June 2, 1913. During her childhood years, she enjoyed playing with her siblings Edith, Homer, Naomi and Lucile on their parent’s produce farm in Codell. After graduating from Codell High School, she moved to Waterloo, Iowa where she attended business school. Following school she returned home to the family farm.
A mutual friend by the name of Orville introduced June to Paul Henry Mayhew. It was said to be love at first sight between them and they were united in marriage on October 6, 1934 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They were married for 71 wonderful years, until Paul went home to be with the Lord on October 28, 2005. During their years of marriage, they settled in Plainville and were blessed with three children, a son Gary Delane, and daughters Carol June and Paula Jean.
For many years, June enjoyed being able to stay at home and take care of her children. She loved her children so much and wanted nothing but the best for them, Gary gave her the nickname “Mother Perfect” because there was nothing she wouldn’t do to see her children succeed in all they did. She enjoyed spending time in her kitchen baking family dinners, along with homemade sour cream raisin pie, coconut cream pie, or her famous angel food cake. She also loved to make homemade vanilla ice cream as a special treat.
During the spring you could always find June outside, tending to her garden or working flower beds that were filled with her favorite rose plants. If she wasn’t outside, she could be found enjoying her favorite pastime of shopping. Whether for groceries, Avon products, or crystal dishes, June would take her time in order to find just exactly what she wanted or needed. Later, she went to work for the Plainville School District as a cook. She loved working at the school, where she was able to see the smiles of the many children that passed through the lunchroom every day. She was blessed to work at the district for 20 years.
After retiring, June was able to spend time at home, spoiling her grandchildren, her favorite being whoever was the one in front of her. Of course, she would do just about anything for her grandchildren, from making them homemade cinnamon rolls, or homemade orange rolls upon request, to buying a Hello-Kitty stapler because she was told, “My parents would not mind if you bought this for me.” No matter what she was doing with the grandkids, she would be filled with life and joy as if she were a child herself. She made sure each of her grandkids knew they were special and loved by her.
June is survived by her daughters Carol Pywell and Paula Koehler; sons-in-law Richard Pywell and David Koehler; granddaughters Laurie Mayhew, Tracy Miller, Jill Wechsler, Brandee Klowann; grandsons, Mark Mayhew, Chad Persing, JR Miller, Kirby Wechsler, Raymond Klawonn; and great-grandsons Jesse Miller, Chase Wechsler, Kyle Wechsler, Nathaniel Wechsler, and Kane Persing.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Lillie Darland, husband Paul Henry Mayhew, son Gary Mayhew, brother Homer Darland, and sisters Edith Turner, Naomi VanKirk, and Lucille Zitzlsperger.
Even at the age of 102, June never slowed down. She enjoyed the activities at Solomon Valley Manor, spending time with friends, celebrating birthdays, going to the Rooks County Fair, watching her great-grandson play basketball, and coming home to enjoy both Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
The family would like to invite you to join them at 1:30 pm, on Thursday, January 28, 2016 for a Celebration of Life Service at the Nazarene Church in Plainville. Burial will follow at the Plainville Cemetery.