Marilyn Elaine Mitchell Stevenson

Marilyn Elaine Mitchell Stevenson - “Mitzi” to all that knew her, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2019. The only child of James S. and Thelma Meredith Mitchell, Mitzi was born in Pineville, LA on December 5, 1933 and spent her youth in Natchitoches, LA. She attended LSU where she was a proud Kappa Kappa Gamma, and met and married the love of her life, Wilmer McClure Stevenson.

After college, Mac served in the U.S. Air Force before beginning his 30-year career with Exxon. Mitzi managed the many moves required by Mac’s job, and frequently taught school and volunteered in each community. From Houston to New Orleans, Kingsville TX to Sydney, Australia, and points in between, Mitzi and Mac were proud to call each “home.”

It was during their second pass through Houston that Mitzi and Mac discovered Wimberley. In 1975, they purchased some land on the Blanco River that became their weekend escape from Houston. They soon shared this discovery with other Houston friends, and eventually purchased a couple of other Wimberley get-aways before building their retirement home in Woodcreek.

One of the many sayings Mitzi loved was “bloom where you are planted,” and she bloomed in Wimberley. As a member of WIC and the Wimberley Civic Club, Mitzi also served on the board of the Emily Ann Theater, volunteered with the Barnabas Connection, the Wimberley Playhouse, Literacy Volunteers of Wimberley, and still found time to play bridge and join many book clubs and supper clubs. Mac and Mitzi were very active members of the Wimberley Presbyterian Church, teaching vacation bible school, serving on many committees and working mission trips to Africa and South America.

Throughout their 57-year marriage, Mitzi and Mac embraced life and never completely unpacked their suitcases. A firm believer in “do everything in life once, and the fun things twice,” Mitzi was up for any adventure, and instilled this love in her children and grandsons. Mitzi is survived by her daughter Susan and husband J.D. Metcalfe, her son Tom and wife Margo Stevenson, and her four grandsons: Mitch Metcalfe, Riley Metcalfe and his wife Frances, Tyler Stevenson and his wife Tyler, and Troy Stevenson. The family would like to thank the many other members of Mitzi’s family that include those friends and neighbors that helped her stay active and at home for so many years after Mac’s passing in 2011.

A memorial service at a later date is planned. In the meantime, honor her by remembering another of Mitzi’s favorite verses:

These are times when gloom and despair

Surround and could overwhelm those who

Have forgotten that God’s gift of Life is reason enough

To laugh, to love

And wear bright orange!