Mildred Lorene Aikins, 85, Chanute, died Monday, July 28, 2008, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center.

She was born May 2, 1923, in rural Thayer to Earl D. and Edna Hasty Maxwell. She lived in rural Erie for 40 years before moving to Chanute. She spent her last nine years at Heritage Health Care Center.

She devoted her life to her family as a loving mother. She loved music, painting and reading.

She married Russell “Dean” Aikins on June 28, 1939, in Altoona. He survives.

She was a homemaker.

Along with her husband of 69 years, Dean, she is survived by two daughters, Alice Barnhart and Sharon Paillette; two sons, Russ and David Aikins; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Lloyd Maxwell; and two sisters, Ilean Hedricks and Leona Wade.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother Gertrude Maxwell; a grandson, Joe Barnhart; and two sisters, Juanita Marchant and Joyce Barks.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel in Chanute. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation or the charity of the donor’s choice in care of the funeral home.