"To Elizabeth, Rachael, Suzanna, Nathan, Bill and John: I remember you all so well, and was sad to read of Mary's death this morning in the Indianapolis Star. I was impressed with her many contributions to this world and know your parents would have been proud. I am certain her early death brings up memories of Rebecca as well. May God sustain you in your sadness."
In loving memory of
Mary Harter Mitchell
December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969
Mary Harter Mitchell
Born March 9, 1953, Ashland, OH; grew up in Anderson, Indiana. Died Nov. 4, 2009, age 56; father Nathan F. R. Harter (Lutheran minister); mother Mary Harter. Mary is survived by husband Frank Burch Brown; ex-spouse Dan Mitchell; daughters Clara Hope Mitchell and Sally Hope Mitchell; siblings Elisabeth Jones, Rachel Harter, Susanna Harter, Nathan Harter, William Harter, and John Harter; she is predeceased by sister Rebecca Harter. Mary taught at the IU School of Law?briefly at Bloomington and thereafter at Indianapolis.
Mary was a devoted mother who gave generously of herself to her daughters Sally and Clara, both of whom she gave the middle name ?Hope,? and whom she home-schooled in highly creative ways. She encouraged their love of literature, dance, and theatre.
A Professor in the IU School of Law, Indianapolis since 1980, Mary was named the Alan H. Cohen Professor of Law in 2004. She taught contracts as well as courses in elder law, law and religion, rape law, prisoners' rights, and prison literature. She had served on virtually every faculty committee and as faculty advisor for many student organizations. Mary is the author of Legal Reference for Older Hoosiers and recipient of an IU Trustee's Teaching Award in 2003. Mary also regularly took graduate courses as a non-degree student at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis.
Mary was a member of First Friends (Quaker) Meeting, Indianapolis. A strong advocate for peace, she lived her faith through service to others. Mary had a lifelong commitment to social justice and to women?s rights. Mary was currently at work on a substantial article on the concept of human dignity in law.
As a poet, Mary had a gift for finding the sacred in unexpected places, for tracing the amazing peculiarities and delights of love, and for at once protesting and ultimately affirming the mysterious but often painful paradoxes of life and death.
Newly wed to CTS religion scholar and musician Frank Burch Brown, Mary and Frank shared a keen interest in religion, poetry, music, architecture, and other arts, as well as the natural world. Mary collected rocks, especially fossils. She was fond of canoeing on Sugar Creek in Indiana and she loved the mountains and rocky deserts of the West. She eagerly traveled abroad.
Mary was truly beloved by the numerous students she taught and by the many people whose lives she touched. Mary's sudden and untimely death leaves all who knew her in a state of shock and grief?but also with boundless gratitude for the gift of her life and for her compassionate, passionate, and ever generous spirit.
A memorial service will be at First Friends Meeting, Indianapolis on Sunday November 8, 2009 at 4:30 PM. Reception to follow. As an alternative to flowers, the family encourages charitable donations to Doctors without Borders. Care and arrangements were entrusted to the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel 740 East 86th Street, Indianapolis. www.leppertmortuary.com.
Tributes
"Clara and Sally -- my sister Elizabeth Wallingford and I met you and your parents when we attended First Friends. Your mother was a wonderful example of public service in the tradition of Quakerism. Her gentle spirit and creative problem solving were refreshing and will be missed. Our deepest sympathies to you."
"Mary was the most kind, compassionate, and generous person I have had the pleasure of working with and knowing. I was her secretary for many years. Her students loved her as did her fellow faculty members and staff. Often you could find Mary working in her office until the wee hours of the morning. Mary and Dan did home-school Sally and Clara and what wonderful ladies they became. Mary was very considerate and even after I retired she never forgot to send me birthday and Christmas cards along with a message. I will always remember when I turned 65 she sent me the most beautiful array of roses of every known color - which made my day extra special. That was Mary always thoughtful. I cannot imagine the law school without Mary Mitchell. To Sally, Clara, Dan, and her husband Frank, may God give you peace in your time of sorrow."
"We frequently hear, "The news reports are always about bad, sad, depressing things. Why don't they report good news?!" Mary Mitchell was a "Good News Reporter" and she devoted much of her precious time doing things to make her friends and colleagues happy. More than once I opened my office door to find a poem that she had slipped under it (they were alway anonymous, but I knew who had sent them). The poetry was never trivial, always something to ponder, and unfailingly brightened my days -- still do. She led many efforts and events at the law school to recognize and express appreciation for the everyday things that people did; the kinds of things most of us considered "doing the job." A sweeter, more considerate, more caring colleague has never graced the halls of the law school. The Good News Reporter will live long in our hearts. -- LPW --"
"The pure, the bright, the beautiful that stirred our hearts in youth,The impulses to wordless prayer,The streams of love and truth,The longing after something lost,The spirit"
"Dear Clara and Sally,Many years ago, we shared special times with you and your mother through homeschooling. Later, you attended classes at Walnut Grove Christian Preparatory School where our son, Stephen, was a student and where I taught. Although our family moved from Indiana a number of years ago, I continue to hold warm, fond memories of your mother in my heart. My prayers are with you, your father, and your step-father at this sad time. May you find peace in precious memories of your mother and comfort in our Lord. Lovingly, MaryBeth Berry and family"
"Mary Mitchell was my most favorite professor when I was in law school. So kind, patient, and brilliant. It was wonderful just to be in her classroom. There was something very special about her and I was so saddened to hear about her death. I recently lost my mother and to Mary's daughters, I express my sincerest sympathy - I miss my mother everyday and you will too. But how lucky you were to have shared your life with such a wonderful woman! "
"Condolences to Mary's family.I went to school with Mary Harter starting at the very old Central Junior High and continuing through to Anderson,where she became our class valedictorian.We shared homerooms and classes in the 7th and 8th grades.Mary was tall, taller still than some of the boys,wore glasses,and had a demure style about her.Already,her intelligence and maturity stood out-maturity being on hold for some of the rest of us.Back then,students were sometimes called upon to stand up and recite in English and History class.Mary had a unique and distintive voice-low and clear and still feminine-but almost husky.When it was Mary's turn to give a speech she always smiled before she sat back down.That smile said:"Thank you for listening to me". That was Mary's graciousness.She was gracious and kind and caring to everyone,and I believe that everyone respected Mary and liked her in return.At reunions Mary showed up the same person,but added a few things.She dressed more fashionably.She had become prettier.She was at ease with herself,and she seemed happy in her life.I am saddened that she died.I truly regret that I did not know Mary Harter Mitchell as an adult."
"Mary Mitchell was my favorite professor in law school became she brought an element of human understanding to an otherwise bleak experience. She was a brilliant teacher. I think of her every Halloween and remember her standing in front of her contracts class dressed as a clown--a smiling clown.I was surpirsed to find that her maiden name was Harter because I had just finished some research about a woman in my church who was born in 1857 and whose family came from Ohio. In sympathy, Suanne Milligan"
"TO FAMILY, The Best Of Friends And Close Colleuges i.e.(I) SEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES. Although i.e(I) was in either of these privileged groups i.e(I) do remember her as being a warm and friendly poet whose life was a brightness that outshines the sadness of her death. Collins Meetinghouse Court Indianaplis In "
"I remember Mary from high school. She was lovely, warm, creative, and applied all those beautiful qualities to her incredible intelligence. And I had the pleasure of seeing her again at the last class reunion. And was amazed that she was even lovelier in every way. The world has lost a beautiful human being but gained an angel. Peace to her family and friends. "
"Mary and I were roommates at Cornell Law School. She was a lovely person and I treasure the memories of the times we shared. Please accept my sincere sympathy."