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Wlaf1450Mrs. Mildred Jean Logsdon
On October 30, 2019, Mildred Jean (Mimi) Logsdon passed away peacefully at her home in Portland, Oregon after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Wayne her husband of 53 years, was by her side.
Born Mildred Jean Thomas in 1943 in Newcomb, Tennessee to Merton and Johnnie Thomas, Mimi lived there until her 18th birthday when she moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue her dreams. There she met Wayne then a candidate for the U.S. Diplomatic Service. In 1967 she left her bookkeeping job and the newlyweds were off to Paris, France for their first foreign diplomatic assignment where their daughter Elizabeth was born. From 1967-2001, Mimi and Wayne lived in a dozen different countries.
Once Elizabeth began school Mimi also joined the U.S. Diplomatic Corps. Her job assignments were to various positions at different embassies including political affairs. She also worked at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York and in Washington, D.C. During her career, Mimi studied 3 foreign languages (French, Spanish, Hungarian) and became job proficient in each. She was often a liaison officer for visiting U.S. Congressional delegations and participated in official embassy briefings. Her career blossomed and promotions were regular.
While abroad, in addition to her official duties, Mimi was active locally as an organizer of and a participant in, social events. While living in Manila, Philippines for example, Mimi became involved in the stage productions of a local theater company and acted in a play called “The Women”. A natural thespian, she performed in plays as well during her assignments to Budapest, Hungary and Tel Aviv, Israel. Mimi was also most proficient at social card games, an accomplished tennis player, and played golf better than most.
During the first Gulf War in Kuwait in 1990 rather than be evacuated herself, she chose to remain at the besieged U.S. embassy so that another embassy family could leave in her place. During the crisis, Mimi was key to the evacuation of 2500 Americans and other non combatant civilians from several countries marooned in Kuwait following the invasion by the Iraqi army. These selfless acts and her professional accomplishments earned her an award for valor from the U.S. State Department and official recognition by the CIA.
Following the liberation of Kuwait, Mimi participated in a briefing at the White House for then President George H.W. Bush and his staff on the details of the crisis. After the cessation of hostilities, she volunteered to return to Kuwait and assist with reestablishing the U.S. Embassy presence.
Upon retirement Mimi expanded her interests to include additional university courses and in depth bible study with a neighborhood church group. She was baptized in the Episcopal Church and attended mass regularly.
After moving to Portland, Mimi continued her passion for golf. As was her personality she made friends easily. All who knew her would attest to the human worth of this intelligent, gentle, loving, and caring person. Many often remarked about her kind nature and how her sweet smile could bring sunshine to brighten the day.
Mimi lived her life on her own terms without regrets. She touched the lives of many and made a positive difference in this world. She reflected on how her life was filled with miracles large and small and blessings without measure. She remarked more than once that hers was a life well worth living. Indeed it was. Mimi will be missed by all who knew and loved her and she will never be forgotten.
Services are planned for a later date.
Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.
“Your Family Funeral Home”