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MARY "MIMI" HORNE RUSSELL, 70 of Fort Wayne, passed away Monday, Jan. 23rd 2017, at Heritage Park Nursing Facility. Mary was a retired teacher of Fort Wayne Community Schools. She is survived by her daughters, Angela Lindenberg Williams of Clinton, Miss., Leah Elizabeth Russell of Fort Wayne, Emily Catherine Russell (Shawn) Sharin of Austin, Texas, and Elizabeth Jane Russell of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Maximilian Russell and Sofie, Jack, and Annabelle Sharin; siblings, Roberta Archer and Ted (Patti) Horne; as well as nephews, Williams and John Martin, and Robert and Paul Horne; and the father of her children, Carlton P. Russell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert E. and Wanda K. Horne; and brother-in-law, John W. Archer; and nephew, Joseph J. Archer. The family would like to thank Heritage Park for their tender and loving care for Mary. Services to be held at a later date. Memorials maybe made to Saint Mary's Soup Kitchen and Heritage Park Nursing Facility.
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Susan K. Housholder (Johnson)
Learning that Mimi has left the confines of this world has made me terribly sad. Whenever I have thoughts of our class days at NSHS, she has most often been at the center. She was so terifically energetic, the happiest, the most clever young person I knew there. In classes, in social situations, in every sense, she brought so much light and life to our experiences with her industrious and sometimes mischevious ideas and thoughts. She seemed so comfortable in her own skin at such a young age, so fiercely independent - all that I felt I was not - and how I admired her for those things. It is so hard to believe that spark of life has left us, but at the same time, I thank God that she is free from the horrific scourge that bound her bright, beautiful mind for so long. I offer her family my condolences, but I also hope they, and all of us, Mimi's scattered friends and family, the class of 1963, will find peace in looking up so see her brilliance now shining above us - eternally in the night sky.
John A. Briggs
Sad news. Mimi was bright and fun, with a wry sense of humor. I last spoke to her more than 50 years ago, but she never faded in memory. I had hoped to see her at our 50-year reunion and looked foolishly, thoughtlessly, for the slim, pretty teenager from our pre-Beatles days.
Dia Felice Smith (Salogga)
Mimi was a dear friend that I had seen about ten years ago for dinner when I had been in Fort Wayne to see my mom. We talked about what had gone on in the last 40 years for few minutes, as we had seen each other when we both had our first babies and spent time together as couples. Then my husband and I moved over seas and Mimi was kind enough to store our furniture in the basement of their house. Mimi was viacious and active when we were young with new babies and I believe we did not consider what lay ahead for any of us.
Mimi's life changed as did mine, she had more children, all girls and she took on the responsibility of raising them and one by one puting them through college. She said she sent them to college to learn, "not to party", and if they wanted to party they could come home. I think of Mimi and all the good times we had on our dimes. Mimi was great, looked good and was telling me what she knew about some classmates, but that she did not know about many.
I have to say that I am tearful about Mimi's death. I did not think that I would not see her again after having dinner. I did not call the next time I was in town; only coming once a year, regretfully. The next thing I heard from somewhere was that Mimi had dementia, that is okay it happens, and is nothing of which to be ashamed. I have one big question, who submitted that photograph of Mimi that I will never get over and never see again; and how many people saw her? There must have been a photo of of her that looked like her older, pre-dementia. I was distressed to see my friend of 55 years or more portrayed by her senior photo and her final photo. Mary Margaret Horne Russell was more than a picture and a few words, she was a contagiously cheerful, mischievious, bright, knowledgeable, understanding mother and sharing woman.