LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Audrey Estella (Schwerdtfeger) Mullenix, 103, died April 9th, 2026 at her home in Las Cruces, New Mexico with family by her side. She was born on June 25th, 1922 in rural Rice County, Kan., the daughter of Charles August and Edith Gertrude (Blaylock) Schwerdtfeger. Audrey graduated from Bushton High School in 1940, and married Leonard Loraine Mullenix on Oct. 12th, 1941 at the Methodist Church of Bushton. During high school and prior to her marriage, Audrey worked as a telephone operator. Her greatest joy in life was her role as a wife and mother to her and Leonard’s six daughters. Over the years, they made their home in various towns in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. In retirement, they enjoyed visiting family, sight-seeing and traveling by RV across the country. A family historian, Audrey was fond of scrapbooking and story-telling the events of her long life. She also enjoyed embroidery, singing, playing the piano, and making cookies for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Our mother Audrey wrote in her journals that she accepted Jesus Christ as a young girl. She lived her faith every day by loving and giving herself to others, in accordance with her favorite Bible verse:

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” -Psalm 19:14

As such, she expressed her love through acts of service. Mother always gave Daddy a kiss before he left for work, and had a slice of his favorite Apple Pie or bowl of tapioca pudding (which for his health later became her sugarless oatmeal cookies) waiting for him when he got home. She was always there to provide love, guidance, hot meals, diaper changes, and to sing rock-a-byes at the birth of every precious grandchild. Mother loved praising the Lord through singing and playing hymns on the piano, and one of her favorite childhood memories was skipping to church side-by-side with her Grandpa Blaylock.

Audrey is survived by her sister, Shirley Brown of Kansas City, Mo.; daughters Charlotte Zielke of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Kerry Cleveland and husband Terry of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kathy Scribner and her husband Eddie of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Patricia Jones and her husband Steve of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Linda Harden and husband Paul of Benton, Kan., and Judy Green and husband David of Franklin, Tenn.; 19 grandchildren; and 46 (and one on the way) great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Edith Schwerdtfeger; husband Leonard Mullenix; sister Alice Bolack; brothers Richard and Leonard Schwerdtfeger; and son-in-law Clyde Zielke.

Family will be greeting friends from 9 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Bushton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Showers of Grace or Love Without Boundaries, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS, 67544.

Notices may be viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home

P.O. Box 146

Hoisington, KS 67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 14, 2026