Mary Elizabeth (Donnell) Mitchell

Mary Elizabeth Donnell Mitchell, 94, died Sunday, December 16. With an inquiring mind and a remarkable inclination to try new experiences, Mary Liz Mitchell married a sports writer, raised 5 kids, went camping on family vacations, kept honey bees, tapped maple trees to make her own maple syrup, made State Fair-prized crabapple jelly, loved birding, tutored adults with learning disabilities for many years, cared for her mother, delivered a grandchild, arranged reunions with their college friends and outlived most of them. Her research on Luther Donnell’s pre-Civil War activism for legislation to protect fugitive slaves resulted in a commemorative plaque being installed in Greensburg, IN. After her husband died, Mary Liz rediscovered her personal independence, attending The Chautauqua Institute in Jamestown, New York for 5 summers. Born May 19, 1924 and raised by Dr. Clifton E. and Bonnie A. Donnell, Mary Liz grew up in the Irvington suburb of Indianapolis, next door to her lifelong best friend, Marilyn Behymer. She attended IPS 57 and was in the first graduating class of Howe High School in 1942, as a cornet player in Howe’s marching band. Mary Liz entered Butler University and became a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. During the summers of World War II she worked at Pittman-Moore, preparing inoculation vials. On June 16, 1946, two weeks after graduating with degrees in Chemistry and English, she married James D. Mitchell (deceased 2012), the love of her life. She is survived by her five children – Doug (Mary Kay), Betsy (John, deceased) Sweeney, Dan, Bonnie (Mark) Fulnecky, and Tom (Sorraya); eleven grandchildren – Molly (Jason), David, Annie (Nick), Patrick (Lisa), Kevin (Kathy), Joe, Elizabeth, Cassandra, Grace, Sally (Peter), Clara, and nine great grandchildren. Mary Liz was a long-time member and volunteer of Northminster Presbyterian Church, where she was still a member of the Bible study group. She also delivered Meals on Wheels for 25 years. Calling will be held Friday, December 28 from 10:00-12:00 PM at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1660 Kessler Blvd. E. Drive, followed by a service at 12:00 PM. Burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Baptist Haiti Mission, Memo: Mary Elizabeth Mitchell, Cypress Creek Rd 1907, Cedar Park, Texas 78613, or Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1660 Kessler Blvd, E Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Online condolences may be left at flannerbuchanan.com.