Mabel DeLissa

Mabel DeLissa, age 91, of Lamar, passed away Saturday, October 20, 2012 at Truman Healthcare Center following a long illness. Mabel was born March 26, 1921 at Liberal, Missouri, the younger of the two daughters of Len and Gertrude (Staley) DeLissa.  Mabel and her sister Nadine were devoted caregivers of their father until his death in 1952 and their mother who died in 1984.  Their strong and loving bond as sisters continued throughout their lives, being broken only by Nadine's passing March 12th of this year. A life-long Barton County resident, Mabel graduated from Lamar High School in 1938 and returned that fall as secretary for the superintendent of Lamar R-1 schools.  Her career in education spanned 44 years and impacted an immeasurable number of faculty and students before her retirement in 1985.    Mabel was a founding member of the Missouri Association of Educational Secretaries who nominated her as National Educational Secretary of the Year in 1977.   She was also honored by the Lamar Business and Professional Women as 1981 Woman of the Year.   Mabel was a member of Lamar United Methodist Church where she served as pianist and taught Sunday school for many years.  She was active in her community as a member of Retired Teachers Association, Atheneum Club, Lamar Art League, Lamar Camera Club, and Fiber Art Guild, as well as serving as contributions chairman for the American Cancer Society for many years.  Nadine and Mabel loved to travel with their favorite destination being Estes Park, Colorado, and Mabel's talent for photography preserved the memories of their many trips.  Her artistic abilities were also evident in the paintings she produced and the poems she wrote. Survivors include several cousins, including Pat and his wife Carol Barr and a good friend and neighbor, Kathleen Dimond, all of Lamar. A graveside funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 24th at Lake Cemetery with Dr. Barry Winders officiating. Memorial contributions are suggested to Lamar Independent Foundation for Education (L.I.F.E.) in care of  Daniel Funeral Home.