Jaunita Mae Mermoud
April 2, 1934 - November 11, 2023
Obituary
A bright Light Has Been Dimmed. Juanita Mae Mermoud, nee Bartelsmeyer passed away on November 11th in Federal Way, Washington (formerly of Overland Park, Kansas), four months after the love of her life, Frank’s passing.
Juanita leaves behind her two daughters, Leslie Mermoud-Babbott (Chip) of Auckland, New Zealand, and Dr. Laurel R. Mermoud Harris (Greg) of Tacoma, Washington as well as six amazing and accomplished grandchildren. Her husband Frank was her passion and she skillfully balanced that with her joys of motherhood. She often said her proudest accomplishment was her family, and especially her six grandchildren.
Juanita and Frank left the Kansas City area for Federal Way in 2007 to be closer to their grandchildren, but they never forgot their connections to close friends in Kansas City.
Juanita and her sister Kay were raised by their parents, Lincoln and Paula, outside of Monett, Missouri and Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. She attended both Drury College and the University of Missouri. Marrying Frank in 1954, they eventually moved to the Overland Park area of Kansas City. Juanita’s intellectual thirst led her to earn a Ph.D in Education Administration from the University of Kansas, while working and raising two daughters. Throughout her pursuits, she was a supportive and constant presence in their lives as well as a loving wife.
Juanita spent the majority of her career in the Shawnee Mission School District, first as a teacher, then administrator, and finally as principal of a number of Shawnee Mission elementary schools.
As a teacher, she validated her students’ strengths and challenged them to strive for their best. She genuinely loved children. As a principal, she was a consummate professional, encouraging and inspiring others. She set high standards for her staff and herself; always expecting dedication and honesty. She championed education and most importantly, affected positive change in every child’s life she touched.
Juanita was an avid reader, loved to travel, kept up with current events, and had a strong bond and unwavering affection for her dogs. She lived a life of compassion and dedication to Frank, her family, and her faith, all mixed with a touch of stubbornness. Whether hiking in the Maroon Bells of Colorado, working on the family farm, or watching a football game with Frank at Shawnee Mission Northwest, she was impeccably dressed – even when staying home. After retirement, Juanita and Frank traveled more of the world, including Europe to Japan, New Zealand and Australia, exploring a much wider world than the one of her youth.
Juanita will be remembered by her family, friends, fellow educators, and students as a gifted teacher and principal, leading by her example of commitment, compassion, zeal and love. She showed kindness, gratitude and patience to those she met; and always parted with a positive word. She will be greatly missed.
Donations in memory of Juanita’s life and passion can be made to Reading is Fundamental (www.rif.org), a non-profit organization fighting illiteracy in the US and worldwide OR the Children’s Literacy Initiative (www.cli.org) which works with teachers to transform the teaching of reading and promoting literacy, as well as providing coaching and resources.
