Mildred Sturgeon

Mildred Marie Byerly Sturgeon, 98, of Leavenworth, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at BeeHive Homes Assisted Living in Georgetown, Indiana.  She was born February 9, 1924, in Leavenworth, to the late Claude and Dora Agnes Shafer Byerly.

After graduating from Leavenworth High School in 1942, Mildred's first Government job was at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio. On more than one occasion, she met Mr. Orville Wright and escorted him onto the air field.  After 2 years, she transferred to Internal Revenue Service in Louisville, Kentucky.  Later she would work at White Sands Missile Range in White Sands, New Mexico.  Mildred was a WWII bride, and married the love of her life on February 5, 1944. Six weeks later he shipped out to The European campaign. In 1955, she and her husband built the River View Motel in Leavenworth which she ran until 1972 when she retired. 

Mildred was active in volunteer work. While living in Campbellsville, Kentucky, she was on the State Board for Human Resources and Manpower Planning Committee. She was awarded Volunteer of the Year in Taylor County.  In Indiana, she was active in PTA, helped start the first County Tuberculosis Association and volunteered at Todd Dickey Nursing Home. For several years she saw that every patient received wrapped Christmas presents. Above all she was always active in church and was a member of New Hope Wesleyan Church in Corydon.  She will be forever loved and missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 60 years, Cleodus E. Sturgeon; her brother, Nova Byerly; her sister, Betty Ridenour; and her infant sister, Doris Jean Byerly.

Survivors include her daughters, Sonja Willis (Stephen) of Leavenworth and Suzie Caffery (David) of Chuluota, Florida; her grandchildren, Taryn Pearson (Hal) of Georgetown, Kyle Willis (Allison) of Houston, Texas, and Lauren and Sarah Janfeshan both of Orlando, Florida; her great grandchildren, McKenna and Rylan Pearson both of Georgetown and Cooper and Daisy Willis both of Houston.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon.  Dr. Aron Willis will officiate.  Burial will be in Fredonia Cemetery near Leavenworth.

Visitation will be after 12:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to Fredonia Cemetery, 6267 East Tower Road, Leavenworth, Indiana 47137.

Pallbearers will be Randy Coleman, Bill Ritchie, Kyle Willis, Hal Pearson, David Caffery and Stephen Willis.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mildred Sturgeon, please visit our floral store.