The Richmond News, Dec. 22, 2023

Bea Mayden, 90, of Carrollton passed away Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at the Carroll House in Carrollton with family by her side.

Dorothy Beatrice Mayden was born Aug. 24, 1933, in Ray County, the daughter of Earnest William and Georgia Beatrice (Weiss) Minnick.

She attended county schools in her elementary years, Hickory Grove and then graduated in 1951 Bea Mayden

from Richmond High School.

She married James Rogers Mayden on Feb. 3, 1952, in Richmond. They were later blessed with four children: Pamela, Russell, Robert and Perry.

Bea was a member of Wakenda Baptist Church, living her faith through daily prayer, teaching and serving. She enjoyed providing Bible lessons to young children in Sunday school and teaching Bible school each summer.

Our mother’s life centered on God, church, family and community. She helped our father on the farm and ran the household for the family. Gardening, canning, cooking, sewing, quilting, chauffeuring and supporting all the activities of her children, and later, her grandchildren were parts of her busy days. She worked as a 4-H leader in Leta Lads and Lassies (east) and later the NFD 4-H Club in her community southwest of town.

After her children were grown, she worked at the Mary Ann Floral Shop and as the Moss Creek township tax collector.

She taught quilting classes to many Carroll County women. She was a member of a county extension club, and the Amicitia social club and Women’s Club of Carrollton.

Surviving family members include her children, Pam Stepp of Lee’s Summit, Russ Mayden and wife Cindy of Carrollton, and Rob Mayden of Carrollton; eight grandchildren, Joe Pollard (Leslie), Derek Mayden (Kaely), Jason Mayden (Rachel), Caitlin Miller (Anthony), Katherine Little (Andrew), Abbey Mayden, Hannah Harper (Jared) and Ben Mayden (Lindsay). Other survivors include 13 great-grandchildren: Charlee, Anabelle, Rigley, Lincoln, Sterling, Rease, Rhett, Riley, Clint, Olivia, Madilynn, Lane and Jorie. Mom also is survived by her beloved sister, Faye Early in Gladstone.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; son, Perry; great-granddaughter, Sophie Kate Mayden; sister-in-law, Evelyn Mayden Young; son-in-law, Pete Stepp; parents, Earnest and Georgia Minnick; and nine siblings, Mildred Mitchell, Emily Herring, Gene Minnick, Betty Bowles, Earnest Minnick Jr., Marjorie Outersky, Glen Minnick, Peggy Norris and Kenneth Minnick.

The family received friends 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Bittiker Funeral Home, 1201 U.S. N. Highway 65, Carrollton, followed by funeral services at 11. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Carrollton.

Contributions may be made to the Wakenda Baptist Church or the Carrollton Women’s Club Scholarship.

Please share your fond memories of Bea and condolences for her family by visiting www.bittikerfuneralhomes. com and clicking on the obituary link.