Mildred Jane Paxson, 101, of Grinnell died May 28, 2008, at Friendship Manor Care Centre in Grinnell. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the Rev. Susan Leathem-Sanning, Grinnell Regional Medical Center and Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Pallbearers will be Lauren, Deanna, Alan and Lori Paxson, Lori and Chris Sogge. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to service time Tuesday morning at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Mildred Paxson Memorial fund. The daughter of Jesse and Grace Shifflett Kingsland, she was born December 31, 1906, in Brooklyn, Iowa. She later moved with her family to Grinnell in 1908. She was a 1924 graduate of Grinnell High School and later attended Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines. On April 11, 1932, she was married to Carl Paxson, in Grinnell and where the couple continued to make their home. She was employed for 20 years at Comfort Beauty Salon and then for 13 years as a bookkeeper at Queen & Olson Furniture Store. She later was employed in the Alumni Office at Grinnell College and retired from there in 1971. After retirement she took a course in Nurses Aid/Medical Aid and for several years worked at St. Francis Manor and then Friendship Manor. She retired again in 1978 at the age of 71. Mildred was a 63 year member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years, sang in the choir, and was active with United Methodist Women. She was a 79 year member of the Pythian Sisters serving as Most Excellent Chief and a 14 year member of Rebekah Lodge holding the office of Noble Grand. Mildred's greatest joy was the piano. She wrote the class song for her graduating class of 1924 and also composed a Christmas song which has been played in her church. In later years, she was a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Kitchen Band and MAC Chorus, performing at area nursing homes and the Iowa State Fair. She enjoyed camping and fishing, and she loved her pet dogs. Survivors include her son, Lauren (Deanna) Paxson of Montezuma; two grandchildren, Alan (Anjie) Paxson of Conrad and Lori (Chris) Sogge of Bondurant; and four great-grandchildren, Kenna and Alex Paxson of Conrad and Jorgen and Clayton Sogge of Bondurant. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1971; one brother, Marion 'George' Kingsland; and one sister, Gertrude Kingsland as an infant.