Mina Jane Oxyer, 93 of Burlington, Washington, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026 from cancer. Mina was the fourth of five children born during the great depression on July 18, 1932 to Carl and Olive Stevens in Benson County, North Dakota. She was married to Edward Wayne Oxyer in Cheyenne, Wyoming on August 7, 1955. They had three boys, James, Lenders and David.

Mina Jane Stevens lived on a Farm raising horses, cattle, sheep and occasional hogs, they grew grain, wheat, barley and oats. Life was very challenging and harsh during that time period.

From a very young age, Mina showed a strength and resilience that would define her entire life. At four, She fell on a pitchfork driving a tine into her leg, she still has the scar.

A year later her Dad, Carl was disking a field. Mina headed out in the field with siblings Ed and Myrtle, she cut out and ran towards her dad as he turned the disc without seeing her. The disk ran over her. The men picked up the disk, and her brother pulled her out. Her injuries were so severe they cut her clothes off, wrapped her in a sheet and drove 30 miles on rough roads to the doctor in Rugby with a 1919 model T Ford. The doctors did what they could, but they did not expect her to live. They reported if she lived, she would probably be "mentally effected" the rest of her life. They wired her jaws together and with 2 teeth missing, her nourishment was provided through straws, as IVs were not in use then. She traveled by train to Minot for several cosmetic surgeries. The last trip included a quick stop at the zoo with her mom to see the large white polar bears, although seeing was more different with one eye sowed almost completely shut without vision. As most of you know, she did survive and thrive.

At 14 she faced another life-threatening moment. she was taking a horse drawn sleigh to school picking up five other kids on the way. One snowy day after dropping the five kids off at their houses, she turned the horses to head a mile and half across the open prairie to home. A real "white out" condition happened, the horses got confused and finally turned their backs to the wind and stopped. It was dark, unable to see where she was, Mina covered herself with blankets and stayed in the covered sleigh until her dad and neighborhood men went looking for her and saw her lantern. They unhitched the sleigh, took her and the horse's home. Her feet froze on the way home and were prone to cold weather ever since. The next morning the temperature was 60* F below zero.

At nine years old she dedicated her life to Christ and felt a calling to be a Nurse. 1953 she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While working at Community Hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she met Edward Oxyer who was in the military. After their wedding, they were stationed in Puerto Rico and welcomed their first son James in 1959. They were transferred to Williams Air Force Base in California and had twin boys Lenders and David in 1962.

She worked Civil Service in Military hospitals everywhere they were stationed. In 1971 they moved to Skagit County when Edward was sent to Vietnam and the family stayed with her parents in Sedro-Woolley. She worked at United General Hospital OB-GYN until that service closed for a period of time. Continued working at Mira Vista until her retirement after 54 ½ years in Nursing. 2018 Awarded Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's – Who's of nursing.

Nursing truly runs in her family, her mother, herself, several nieces and her daughter-in-law all followed that same calling.

Our family lived in Belfast area of Skagit County at the bottom of Bow Hill Rd off old highway 99 until the divorce in 1978. Mina showed remarkable determination by purchasing a home on her own, just outside Burlington. She often spoke about how difficult it was as a single woman, but she persevered, trusting that God would provide and He did. There, she raised beef calves, chickens, and tended a large garden and several fruit trees.

When we were stationed in Annapolis, Maryland, before she turned 70, Grandma Mina flew out for a visit. During that trip, we drove to Maryland, Delaware, NJ and NY so she can say she had been to all 50 States, plus Puerto Rico.

In 2021 on Grandma Mina's 90th Birthday Queen Elizabeth the Second presented a Proclamation to establish Grandma Mina as "Lady Mina Jane Oxyer of Scottland". A real novelty item which she was tickled to have been presented.

Grandma Mina spent her life serving others, both professionally and volunteering. She supported many programs, especially those benefiting veterans. When nursing work slowed in Hawaii, she even stepped in as a substitute teacher for a year ending up in James and Lenders classes, guess my teacher was never sick.

She was deeply involved in our school activities and church life. Her talent for baking sweets was always a hit with our friends. She played the organ and piano in as many churches as I remember attending. When teaching Sunday and Sabbath schools she put a lot of effort into bringing illustrations and examples to her classes. Grandma Mina continued volunteering with the Adventist school lunch program until she was unable to keep up with the physical activities.

One of the most cherished traditions in our family was Friday night dinner and Scrabble. I can't remember a single week in the past 20 plus years that she didn't ask "are we on Friday", code words for, will we be having dinner and play one or two games of scrabble. Recently we even got in some games, after she got out of the hospital. She was a very well-read person. One year we made the mistake of giving her the latest addition of Websters Scrabble dictionary on Christmas, thinking nobody is going to study that, it's too dry. Before long, she was surprising us all with new words!

She always had a good sense of humor. I usually tried to have a good Chuck Norris joke ready to match her riddles during game night. One of the jokes she laughed at the hardest was, "when Chuck Norris was born, he drove his mom home from the hospital". She saw the real humor in that.

Grandma Mina was known for her kindness and her faith. She led a modest life. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was a true prayer warrior, faithfully lifting up family and friends every single day. Without a doubt, on many occasions, I was on the receiving end of her prayer requests. She will be deeply missed. But we can take comfort in knowing that she is at peace, and that one day we will see her again. She summed up her life quite nicely by saying, "I have lived 93 good years, I have no complaints."

Mina is survived by sons, James Oxyer of Louisville KY, David (Theodora) Oxyer of Burlington WA; grandchildren, Michelle (Mike) Sanchez of Sedro-Woolley WA, Joshua Oxyer of Jamicia NY; great grandchildren, Mileya Sanchez, Maelyn Sanchez & Mason Sanchez; her siblings, Myrtle Syverson of Sedro-Woolley, Judy Stevens of Abilene KS; with numerous nephews and nieces.

Mina was preceded by Estranged spouse Edward Oxyer; son, Lenders Oxyer; grandson, Aaron Oxyer; father, Carl Stevens; mother, Olive (Walter) Stevens; siblings, Edwin Stevens, Floyd Stevens, and niece Betty (Stevens) Montieth.

Thanks to everyone for attending her memorial, Hospice Northwest for the support they provided, Lemley Chapel, Seventh Day Adventist Church Burlington and special thanks for all who were able to stop by, visit and pray with her. That really meant a lot to her.

Celebration of life to be held 5:oo, on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 800 Peacock Ln, Seventh Day Adventist Church Burlington, WA. Interment at Union Cemetery Sedro-Woolley is to be determined. Suggested donations to a Christian Church or school program.