James R. Mitchell, Jr., 64, passed away March 29, 2009, at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center′s ICU from complications of a heart attack and pneumonia. He was born Sept. 23, 1944 in Nogales, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his father, James Russell Mitchell, Sr.; mother, Sybil (Tatum) Mitchell; sister, Barbara Bothwell; nephew, Russell Ward Bothwell; uncle, Gerald Mitchell; aunt, Kate; and numerous other relatives.
Mitchell is survived by his wife of 38 years, Martha A. Mitchell; his son, James Ryan Mitchell; daughter-in-law, Rebecca Mitchell; grandchildren, Kenneth and Kaitlynn Mitchell, all of Walsenburg, CO; sister, Patricia McDowell, nieces, Sabrina and Jamie; nephew, Robert Bothwell, all of Tucson, AZ; his aunt, Ruth Gibson, Medford, OR; numerous cousins and other family members; brother-in-law, Denys (Sharon) Medina, Walsenburg, CO; sister-in-law, Josephine (Bill) Cooper, Brentwood, CA; nephew, Scott (Stacy) Cooper; and niece, Kelsey Jane Cooper, Pleasanton, CA.
Jim graduated from Battle Mountain High, Minturn, CO, in June 1962. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1962, was stationed at Whitman Air Force Base in Missouri, and was honorably discharged on December 21, 1966. He retired from the Colorado Department of Transportation in 2000 after 32 years of service. Shortly after, he returned to work with Heath Andreatta Excavation, where he worked until recently. Jim was one of a kind, easy-going, good-humored, hard-working, stubborn, big-hearted, always willing to help at a moment’s notice. He loved his family, being in the mountains, animals, couldn′t do without his coffee and cigarettes and his Diet Coke, and he savored his "coconut cream pie." In general, he loved food. He had a thing for his electronic games, crossword puzzles, scratch tickets and his "oldies music." I (Marti) always told him he was like an old LP record, stuck in the ′60s. He pushed my buttons and drove me to distraction, but we all loved him. He loved his job, working with his son and all the crew. He touched the lives and hearts of many people and seldom met a stranger. He has left a huge void in all of our lives and a bigger hole in our hearts. To his "special family", Heath and Michelle and children, he loved you all dearly! Thank you for being a part of our life. To the crew and all those whom he worked with, he enjoyed every moment he spent on the job with you. I may have had an absent husband at times, but he was happy! Much better than having a miserable couch potato. He will be sorely missed by his two furry girls, Sheba and Miss Kitty. I′m running late "again" as usual, Honey. I love you! See you in Rio, Baby!
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary-Corwin Hospital′s cardiac wing, or to the Intensive Care Unit, or to your favorite charity, if you so desire. Thank you.
