Mary Dawn Elven

Mary Dawn Elven, 60, of Grandview, MO, passed away Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at St. Joseph Medical Center. Visitation will start at 6:00 P.M. Friday, December 3rd, at First Church of the Nazarene, 11811 State Line Rd., and will conclude with a Life Celebration Service at 8:00 P.M. Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, with Interment following in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested to Grandview Education Foundation for Grants to Support Music Programs, P.O. Box 546, Grandview, MO, 64030. Mary Dawn was born January 31, 1950 in Kansas City, KS, the only child of Kenneth and Minerva Bledsoe, and she had lived in the Kansas city Area most of her life. She taught music for over 40 years at many schools, including Thayer Public Schools in Thayer, MO, Eureka Springs Public Schools in Eureka Springs, AR, R. J. Delano School and Van Horn High School in Kansas City, MO. Since 1981, Mary Dawn taught at the Grandview C-4 School District at High Grove, Conn-West, and currently at Belvidere Elementary School, serving as the District Vocal Chair since 2000, and staying active finding places for the kids to perform. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Evangel College in 1972, and her Masters in Music Education from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 1981, holding certificates for both Instrumental and Vocal Music. She has attended and been a Choir Director at Overland Park Assembly of God, Grandview Assembly of God, where she was Assistant Music Minister, and most recently First Church of the Nazarene. Mary Dawn loved music, and enjoyed learning to play different instruments, such as the saxophone, piano, dulcimer and bagpipes. She was a member of the Teacher’s Union, and was a member of, and served on a variety of committees at the local and state levels, including the Missouri National Education Association and the Grandview National Education Association. She was the recipient of the 1994-1995 Belvidere Teacher of the Year, and she really enjoyed teaching, considering her kids her extended family. She also enjoyed dancing, winning many awards for the Ballroom Style. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband, who she married 15 years ago in Israel, by the Sea of Galilee, Ray Elven of the home. Also left to cherish her memory are 2 step-sons, Jerry Elven of Bonner Springs, KS, and George Elven of Grandview, MO; 3 grandchildren, Kelsie Elven, Tyler Elven and Courtney Elven; and many cousins. Condolences may be left at www.chapelhill-butler.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street in Kansas City, KS, (913)334-3366.