A wonderful sister, aunt, friend and teacher passed away on August 5, 2024, leaving behind a history of a uniquely interesting life and a character of considerate thoughtfulness, skill and generosity.
Born in Turlock, California to William and Ethel Tell in 1936 and raised in nearby Hilmar, just about the best of American small-town life – “more Swedish than Sweden”, Mavis spent her first 18 years of life in a town of about 1000 people ... but she soon left for Chicago, then Japan, then Germany. She attended North Park College in Chicago, then San Jose State, where she graduated in 1958 with an elementary teacher’s credential. After teaching in the Bay Area for 4 years, she applied to the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) to teach children of military personnel overseas.
In 1962 Mavis moved to Germany, and taught there initially, followed by a stint in Okinawa, Japan, then Tokyo for 7 more years. She returned to teach in Germany at Patch Elementary School on USAG Stuttgart through to her retirement in 2006. Mavis’ path in life was to be a teacher, and to be about the best one you could imagine for elementary school students. Many of us visited her classrooms on visits over the years, and one was always left thinking, “I wish my teachers had been like that”.
The stories and encounters of the children she taught, and the creativity, excellence, and imaginative methods she incorporated into her classroom structure was always impressive. From origami folding being taught to a high standard to goofy pre-teen boys… who could do it, to excellent rewards systems for book reading, to decoupage cutting with great intricacy, etc. She always had a superb, small library of the very best children’s literature on hand. What Mavis was really, was an artist. The art was teaching, and she was one of the best.
A natural hostess, for many decades she entertained many friends and family, based at her lovely apartment in Sindelfingen, Germany, on various trips and expeditions throughout Europe. She sent dozens of gifts and cards to nieces and nephews over many years and visited us during her extensive travels. As an aunt she was a very big part of our lives, and we looked forward to her presence at holidays and summers back in our Hilmar days.
In her retirement at age of 70, Mavis settled in Denver, near to her younger sister, Marianne, and nieces and nephews. She also was a big fan of the annual reunions put on by the Department of Defense. These were held all across the USA and were a treasured time for getting together with old friends from across the earth. Once settled in Denver from 2006 to 2024, Mavis and her family spent much time together and all the
major holidays were enjoyed in various locations, from the Rocky Mountains, to the West Coast, to Florida.
Mavis enjoyed many years of church involvement at various Lutheran congregations in Germany and later, in Denver, at Augustana Lutheran. Until two years or so ago, she was always glad to join Sunday worship via bus from her retirement home at Springbrooke Senior Living, and then later attended worship at Clermont Park Senior Living Community while she was able.
Never married, Mavis was a very beautiful woman with a very certain style – short blond hair, and lovely skirt, an interesting blouse — and always, – a ‘statement’ necklace of great interest and then usually a scarf, which she boasted of owning over 400!
During her declining years in Colorado, Mavis was lovingly cared for, and all her arrangements looked after faithfully by her niece, Karen Meyer, and her sister, Marianne Bovee. They found the best of care homes, made sure that the care level changed when Mavis needed it, and in particular, painstakingly made sure every room Mavis lived in looked and felt like her own home, with her many beautiful items and antiques, to make her as comfortable as possible. Numerous family members and friends visited Mavis during these years and while she may not have known or remembered faces and names, she delighted in the stories, the time spent together, singing remembered hymns and sharing in a cup of coffee and cookie or two – a “Fika” as known in Sweden.
We will not say it was easy to watch such a clear, lively mind begin to lose its power, but we trust in all of God’s providences. Mavis, in her “original First Edition” will be sorely missed. But we are very grateful to a merciful God for her earthly journey, the years we had with her, and our hope in Jesus Christ for her eternity.
Mavis is survived by her brother, Durwood Tell (Linda), and sister, Marianne Bovee. Their beloved sister, Darlene Rutherford passed away in 2020. Nieces and Nephews include Karen Meyer, Jeff (Maradith) Meyer, Scott (Kathi) Meyer; Phillip (Wendy) Rutherford, Kurt (Jenny)Rutherford; Jamie Tell (Toby) O’Connor, and Ashley Tell along with a host of great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial and committal service for Mavis will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 1 pm at Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver, CO,
In lieu of flowers, you are most welcome to make a gift to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in tribute to Mavis M. Tell. https://alzfdn.org/donate/ - or- to Mission Springs Camp & Conference Center, https://www.missionsprings.com/giving/ where the family is placing a memorial paver in memory of Mavis.
