She was born August 30, 1925, near Greenfield, Missouri, to John Grider and Edna (Everett) Grider. Maysel was their first child, sister to Everett Grider, Jerry Grider, Charles Grider and Carl Grider.
Maysel graduated as valedictorian from Greenfield, Missouri High School, and in 1947, from Missouri State University, magna cum laude, and nominated to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. She taught at Central High School, Springfield, Missouri, where she met and, in 1949, at Walnut Street Christian Church, married a fellow faculty member, Carl Chandler White. They were married for 51 years.
After raising her 3 children, Maysel worked as Administrative Assistant for the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Department of Internal Medicine, from 1975 until 1987, during its critical start-up and development years.
She served in PTA, Camp Fire Girls, and was very proactive in supporting her children in all of their educational, sports and other extracurricular activities.
Maysel was a lifetime member of the Christian Church, serving as an Elder and in many roles at Broadway Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas for over 50 years, and continued to serve at Woodridge Christian Church during her later years. She and Carl trained for, established, and managed the first Stephen Ministry at Broadway Christian Church.
Apart from her many roles, Maysel voiced her personal identity through her poetry. She left a treasured legacy of hundreds of poems, written from grade school through the end of her life, recording her unique responses to faith, family, friends and the world of nature.
Maysel is survived by her children, Carla White (Jeff Carman) of Laguna Niguel, California, Lee White (Gaynel) of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Linda Phillips (Mark) of Kansas City, Missouri, grandchildren, Timothy Phillips of Nashville, Tennessee, Bradley White (Melissa) of Houston, Texas, and Anna Phenny (Vicky) of Lawrence, Kansas, and great-grandchildren, Madelyn White and Nathan White of Houston, Texas, sisters-in-law, Virginia Grider of Prescott, Arizona, Carolyn Grider of Raytown, Missouri, Francine Grider of Kenersville, North Carolina, and Darlene Grider of Greenfield, Missouri, nieces and nephews, David Grider (Cindy) of Flagstaff, Arizona, Johnna Gutches of Prescott, Arizona, Jean Mercer (Keith) of Kearney, Missouri, Karen Seely (David) of Louisville, Kentucky, Lea Young (Terry) of Overland Park, Kansas, Jon Grider (Sauna) of Raytown, Missouri, Mark Grider (Amy) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Stephen Grider (Melissa) of St. Louis, Missouri, Richard Grider (Monabell) of El Paso, Texas, Suzanne Tillotson (James) of Kenersville, North Carolina, Roger Grider (Pam) of Bolivar, Missouri, and Greg Grider (Pamela) of Greenfield, Missouri, and many great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.
A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, 1:00 p.m., at Shawnee Community Christian Church, 5340 Martindale Road, Shawnee, Kansas. The officiant will be Pastor Bob Gleason, of Woodridge Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas. Graveside Services will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, 12100 East 13th Street North, Wichita, Kansas, on March 27, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be sent to Woodridge Christian Church, 12111 East 13th Street North, Wichita, Kansas 67206.
