Edna Maurine Dunn Yandell

Edna Maurine Dunn Yandell (1921-2021)

Maurine Dunn Yandell left this world on January 19, 2021. Born in Red Oak, Oklahoma, on October 7, 1921, she grew up singing, dancing, swimming in a local lake, reading English literature, and helping her mother in the country store. Her family was active in both their church and their community. During World War II, Maurine married Lloyd O. Yandell, Jr., her high school sweetheart who was a P51 pilot instructor in the Army Air Corps, and their marriage thrived for 52 years, until Lloyd’s death in 1997.

Lloyd and Maurine moved to Gallup, NM, where they became beloved educators in the public school system for 28 years. Maurine loved sponsoring student activities and was particularly drawn to her Navajo students. Her Master’s thesis at the University of New Mexico analyzed Navajo speakers’ understanding of English idioms. A woman of many talents, she taught at various points English, Social Studies, Home Economics, and Business. Throughout her life, she constantly learned new things, from Navajo to accounting, painting to lip-reading, biography to world cultures.

Having camped in a tent with their family for many years, Lloyd and Maurine set out after retirement in their RV to visit every state in the Union as well as the Canadian provinces, which they did for five years before settling in Albuquerque. After Lloyd’s death, Maurine moved to a retirement community, La Vida Llena, and later married Fred Guyer. They spent fourteen happy and fulfilling years together, until Fred’s death. Maurine’s final companion in her “twilight years” was Norman G. Johnson, with whom she shared many tender moments.

Maurine was preceded in death by her parents Bryan Dunn and Clara and Huey Biggs and brothers Dr. Thomas Dunn and Col. Larry Biggs. She is survived by daughters Carol Williams (Mark) and Cathy Yandell (Mark McNeil), grandchildren Darin Wade (Autumn), Zachary Wade, Elisabeth Yandell McNeil (Mikk Lukk), Laura Yandell McNeil (Michael P. Smith), and great- grandchildren Hunter Wade (Thao Vo) and Mackenzie Wade. She will be remembered by friends and family for her dauntless spirit, her loving generosity, her optimism, her keen sense of justice, and her breakneck walking speed. Maurine inspired many in her life of almost a hundred years.

In lieu of flowers, please direct contributions to Faith Lutheran Church or to the charity of your choice.