Mabel Jean Maxon, age 85, of Harrisonville, MO, passed away Friday, February 5, 2021, at her home with family present.  Funeral services were held Saturday, February 13, 2021 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. Burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Week of Compassion by writing a check to First Christian Church, Harrisonville, MO and putting "Mabel Maxon—Week of Compassion" in the memo line.

Mabel was born April 22, 1935, the daughter of William Paul and Violet (Lowe) Tarpey. She grew up in Stillwater, OK. On August 3, 1958, she was married to William (Bill) Maxon in Stillwater, OK. They made their home in Kingfisher, OK, Hazel Green, KY, Dos Palos, CA, Kansas City, Independence, and Harrisonville, MO before moving to their farm in rural Peculiar, MO in 1971.  Following Bill's death in 2016, Mabel moved to Harrisonville, MO.

Mabel's early employment included working as a switchboard operator together with her sister Martha.  She taught a variety of subjects and ages over decades, including home economics in Kentucky.  As her final teaching job, she joyfully spent many years as "Miss Mabel" to hundreds and hundreds of children who passed through the Kinder Kastle program in Harrisonville.  She cherished working with the young children, teaching them songs and other early skills, all infused with Christian concepts.  She even got to teach some of her own grandchildren there.

She enjoyed watching birds, especially at the feeders she maintained outside her windows.  Her favorite drink was Dr. Pepper, and her favorite food was fruitcake, especially if baked by her daughter-in-law, Chellie.  She also loved to treat her family to meals out and about, and spent many an hour at Taco Bell after church on Sunday.  She was an active participant of First Christian Church in Harrisonville.  She covered every inch of her refrigerator in photos and memories.

Mabel was blessed with a servant's heart that she used to bless everyone in her world.  She poured her love into the many students she taught at Kinder Kastle.  She was a valued friend to many.  She supported and loved her family fiercely.  She attended each and every school or extracurricular event involving her grandkids.  She was always happy to babysit and would often look for extra chores to do just to help out.  She reveled in her great-grandchildren, finding wonder in their antics.  She even indulged the adventurous camping spirit of her husband no matter whether she'd rather have stayed at home, or at least in a hotel.  She was one of the most selfless people God ever created.  She found her greatest joy in spreading joy to others anyway she could.  She took pride in her family and taught them to love and to serve.

Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Maxon; her parents, William and Violet Tarpey; and her brother, Paul Tarpey. Her brother Richard Tarpey followed her in death within a few hours.  Mabel is survived by her sister, Martha Waters of Pawnee, Oklahoma; two children, Sophia Smither and her husband, Richard of Harrisonville, and William Maxon and his wife, Chellie of Lee's Summit; five grandchildren, Kerry Morgan and her husband, Casey, Ryan Smither and his wife, Brandie, Shayne Smither, Curtis Maxon, and Ben Maxon; and four great-grandchildren, Colton, Sarah, Liam, and Lucy.