Artist, educator, musician, architect, builder, adventurer

Former Claremont resident Lindley Mixon died January 20 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Charlotte Mixon; children, Marlin Mixon, Deva Kaur Khalsa (Jimmy) and Leslie Hvamstat (Nathan); stepchildren, David Maxwell (Terri), Suzanne Blackwell (Don), Jolene Kaufmann (Gary) and Daniel Huber (Beth); 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Rosemary Snow (Richard); brothers, David Mixon and Robert Mixon (Barbara); three nieces and two nephews.

Lindley was born in Chicago to John and Rosalie Mixon. He attended elementary schools in both Chicago and Los Angeles, and high schools in Chicago and Covina, California. He graduated from Claremont Men’s College (now Claremont McKenna College) and Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University) with a master’s degree in fine arts.

He married his first wife, Joyce Grant, in 1961. They lived in Claremont, and traveled and lived in Greece and Italy, as well as Wrangle, Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska.

In 1993, he met Charlotte Huber in Anchorage. They were married in Renton, Washington, and lived in Halibut Cove, Alaska, Raymond, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

 Mr. Mixon was often described as a “Renaissance man.” As a creator of fine art (ceramics, bronze sculpture, oils, watercolor, and digital art), an educator, musician, surveyor, architect, builder and adventurer, he lived his life to the fullest.

He loved Bix Beiderbecke and 1920s-era jazz, and danced the Charleston at the drop of a hat! His favorite activity was to solve a problem and to overcome obstacles. He could decipher complex math problems in his head. He flew the first ultralight aircraft over the Arctic Circle. He canoed the Yukon River. His survey work took him all over the state of Alaska, from Adak to a created island in the Beaufort Sea.

While in college, he rode a unicycle 26 miles between San Bernardino and Claremont, while playing a guitar and smoking a pipe.

In the 1960s he designed and built a home-studio on Mount Baldy Road. He so admired the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Taliesin concrete style that he created concrete tilt-up panels and poured concrete walls. The design has been attributed to architect Foster Rhodes Jackson. The fact is that as the owner/builder without certification, he needed the drawings to be signed by a certified architect in order to be approved by the county. (He actually designed and built several homes in this manner). The late Norma Tanega purchased the home-studio in the 1970s.

He also built a studio and workshop in Halibut Cove, Alaska, and, in his 70s, another beautiful home and studio in Raymond, Washington.

 In the last years of his life, Mr. Mixon began to feel the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. He ultimately came to live in the Garden at Orchard Ridge, in Coeur d’Alene, where he charmed and entertained the residents and personnel.

Final arrangements will be performed at English Funeral Home. There will be no services at this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Village At Orchard Ridge, where Mr. Mixon received extraordinary consideration and care from all, at www.theorchardcda.org, or by check to 624 W. Harrison Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

“His family’s wish is that you find happiness in your wonderful memories of knowing Lindley,” they shared. “His smile brought joy to all he knew!”