Mary Mildred Thiebaud Sutherland

“Mildred” passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2010. She had a long healthy life of 104 years.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Leonard Harrison Sutherland and her parents, Edward and Lydia Thiebaud.     Mildred was born July 16, 1906 on the Thiebaud farm on the Oakton Road.  She attended the Oakton grade school and graduated from Lamar High School in the spring of 1925.  She attended Kansas State Teachers College during the summers of 1925-1929 and with correspondence courses taken in the winter months, received her teaching certificate from Kansas State Teachers College in 1929.  During those four years, she taught country school in Rose Branch for two years and then another two years at Cross Roads.     Mildred married Leonard Harrison Sutherland at the family home on November 26, 1929.  The newly married couple made their first home in New York City where Mildred worked for Macy’s in the bookkeeping department.  While living in New York City, Mildred and Leonard enjoyed going to baseball games to see players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.  They also liked to go dancing and to movies.  In the summer of 1944, the family moved back to Lamar.  Mildred and Leonard owned and operated the Corner Drug Store on the northwest corner of the Lamar square during the later half of the 1940’s.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Barton County Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, and her Tuesday Morning Card Club.  Mildred was the first President of the Lamar Public School PTA.     In 1949, Mildred became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and participated in the grand opening of the Barton County Memorial Hospital.  She recalled having made all the beds, prior to the opening. Later in the 1950’s, she began working for the Lamar Trust Company and worked there until she was needed to assist her mother, due to failing health.       Mildred and Leonard built the family home at 204 W. 3rd Street in 1952 and she has lived there until her death.  Mildred had numerous friends throughout the years, many of whom would drop in to see her.  She treasured her friendships and loved Lamar, never wanting to live anywhere else in the world.  Her advice to us today would be to “slow down and smell the roses.”   Mildred was a beautiful lady and very wise woman, a person you could always go to and talk with about anything.  Everyone loved to hear her stories of her childhood, adolescent years, and her adult life.  She was a true best friend to her children and a wonderful, loving mother.  Her greatest joy was being with her “kids”.  She loved playing cards, making quilts, cheering on the Cardinals, and gardening.     Leonard and Mildred Sutherland had three children; Guy and Claire Sutherland of Bartlesville, OK, Marianne and Bill Thompson of Fort Smith, AR, and Jack and Coline Sutherland of Overland Park, KS.  They shared eight grandchildren; Christy Sutherland Wareham, Greg Sutherland, Holly Hatfield Elser, Jill Hatfield Kingsborough, Richard Hatfield, Jennifer Sutherland George, Sara Sutherland and Mark Sutherland.  The Sutherland’s had nine great-grandchildren; Ryan Reynolds, Peyton Porter, Cole Kingsborough, Kate Hatfield, Emma Claire Hatfield, Caroline Hatfield, Kora George, Jackson George, and Maya George     The family would especially like to thank the phenomenal staff at Barton County Memorial Hospital, Dr. Joe Wilson, her caregivers, Janie Conness, Jettra Gardner, Janice Frieden, Opal Davis, Candy Carroll, Clarice McKay, Belinda Overstreet, and Barbara Coons.  Also her dear angels from Truman Health Care; Lori Smith, Angie Cook, and Amy Smith.  Their kindness, respect of humanity and gentle touch has a soothing effect.  What compassion and concern they are empowered with to share with their patients.     A Celebration of Life Service for Mildred will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 23rd at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday.  Burial will be in Lake Cemetery.     Memorial contributions are suggested to Lamar United Methodist Church or Oakton United Methodist Church in care of Daniel Funeral Home.