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PHOENIX, AZ —
Paul Melvin Mitchell Sr., 96, of Phoenix, Ariz., was born October 25, 1916, in Bethany, Mo., one of nine children of Salena and Thomas Mitchell. He died on December 3, 2012, at a group home in Phoenix, Ariz.
From his humble beginnings in Bethany, where his mother died when he was 15 years old, Paul moved to Independence where he met and married Daisy Willoughby, who was from a family of 14. Paul and Daisy had four boys. Their third son, Ronald Vern, died at age 9 months. They worked very hard to support their growing family and create a comfortable home. They prospered during their 42 years of marriage. Paul’s schedule at the Fire Department allowed him to work with his brother-in-law, Ivan, in the roof staining business. His most famous staining job was the steeple of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Independence. It is very tall and steep. Paul was almost killed while helping to stain a roof in Mission Hills, Kansas. Virgil, a co-worker fell to his death past a dormer which Paul had only seconds before stepped in front of. Paul retired from the Independence Fire Department as Captain after 25 years of service. Paul and Daisy spent many summers fishing for Walleye on Lake of the Woods in Canada and many winters in Harlingen, Texas. Daisy died in 1980. Paul married Velma Ballard in 1984. They lived in Shell Knob, Mo., on Table Rock Lake until Velma died in 2001. Shortly after Velma died, Paul and his son, Gary, along with Gary’s wife, Willa, moved to Phoenix. Paul lived out his life in Phoenix, where he enjoyed the warm climate. Paul was a member of the priesthood in the RLDS Church. Preceding him in death was his wife of 42 years, Daisy, his wife of 17 years, Velma, and his infant son, Ronald Vern.
Surviving are three sons, Paul Melvin Jr. of Independence, Mo., Gary Gene of Las Vegas, Nev., and Steven Ray of Independence, Mo.; and two sisters, Orpha Groves of Independence, Mo., and Imogene Rinehart of Bethany, Mo. Also surviving are many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements for his cremation in Phoenix are being made by his son, Gary.
Paul Melvin Mitchell Sr., 96, of Phoenix, Ariz., was born October 25, 1916, in Bethany, Mo., one of nine children of Salena and Thomas Mitchell. He died on December 3, 2012, at a group home in Phoenix, Ariz.
From his humble beginnings in Bethany, where his mother died when he was 15 years old, Paul moved to Independence where he met and married Daisy Willoughby, who was from a family of 14. Paul and Daisy had four boys. Their third son, Ronald Vern, died at age 9 months. They worked very hard to support their growing family and create a comfortable home. They prospered during their 42 years of marriage. Paul’s schedule at the Fire Department allowed him to work with his brother-in-law, Ivan, in the roof staining business. His most famous staining job was the steeple of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Independence. It is very tall and steep. Paul was almost killed while helping to stain a roof in Mission Hills, Kansas. Virgil, a co-worker fell to his death past a dormer which Paul had only seconds before stepped in front of. Paul retired from the Independence Fire Department as Captain after 25 years of service. Paul and Daisy spent many summers fishing for Walleye on Lake of the Woods in Canada and many winters in Harlingen, Texas. Daisy died in 1980. Paul married Velma Ballard in 1984. They lived in Shell Knob, Mo., on Table Rock Lake until Velma died in 2001. Shortly after Velma died, Paul and his son, Gary, along with Gary’s wife, Willa, moved to Phoenix. Paul lived out his life in Phoenix, where he enjoyed the warm climate. Paul was a member of the priesthood in the RLDS Church. Preceding him in death was his wife of 42 years, Daisy, his wife of 17 years, Velma, and his infant son, Ronald Vern.
Surviving are three sons, Paul Melvin Jr. of Independence, Mo., Gary Gene of Las Vegas, Nev., and Steven Ray of Independence, Mo.; and two sisters, Orpha Groves of Independence, Mo., and Imogene Rinehart of Bethany, Mo. Also surviving are many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements for his cremation in Phoenix are being made by his son, Gary.
