She was born Jan. 14, 1920, in Elk County to Alfred and Eva (Redmon) Wilson. Mabel grew up in Elk County and attended Longton High School.
On Oct. 12, 1940, she married Howard Marshall Handy at El Dorado. During World War II she followed her husband while he was in the U.S. Army, living in Rockford, Ill., Augusta, Ga., and Hamlet, N.C. After his discharge from the service in 1944 they moved to Wichita, where she worked at Boeing Aircraft on the B-17 and B-29 aircraft. In 1945 they moved to the Dennis area, where they farmed for 40 years. During the 1950s she worked at H.D. Lee Garment Factory in Cherryvale. Her husband preceded her in death on Sept. 10, 1981. Mabel moved to Sycamore Landing in Coffeyville in 2007.
She was a member of the World Wide Church of God for 50 years. After moving to Coffeyville she was a member of the Tyro Christian Church and its Joy Group and Loyal Worker’s Sunday school class.
Mabel was an example of hard work and sacrifice. She had a kind and sweet, gentle spirit and loved to read the Bible. She was an avid gardener, loved her flowers and had a passion for new recipes and cooking for family get togethers. No family dinner was complete without her blackberry cobbler. She treasured her family and grandchildren. In later years she visited the elderly in nursing homes bringing them home baked treats. She enjoyed serving older people. While living in the nursing home she appreciated so much the “smiles” of the nursing staff.
Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn (Handy) Foote of Coffeyville; two grandchildren, Rebecca (Foote) Hutcheson and her husband, Jeff, of Southampton, Pa., and Brian Foote of Denver; five great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Andrew and Logan Hutcheson, and Ashleigh and Derek Foote.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three sisters, two brothers and two infant grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Neodesha Cemetery in Neodesha with David Bycroft of Tyro Christian Church officiating.
Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville, where the family will greet friends from 3 to 5 p.m.
The family suggests memorials to the Tyro Christian Church Technology Ministry or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o 306 N. Cline Rd., Coffeyville, 67337.
Online condolences may be left at www.dwbfh.com.
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