Raymond J. Mitchell

Raymond J. Mitchell, son of William Wiley and Sina Lou Mitchell, was born May 31, 1929, in Opelilka, Alabama. Mr. Mitchell moved to Longview from Little Rock, Ark., in 1965. Ray went home to his Lord on Friday, January 7, 2005 after a short illness Mr. Mitchell served as an agent, insurance representative, and sales manager for several different insurance companies over the years, including American General Life and Accident Insurance, J.C. Penney Financial Services, United American Insurance Company, Southwestern Life Insurance Company, and Southwestern General Life Insurance. He had extensive training in management, life and personal insurance, agent development, and product knowledge. Mr. Mitchell was respected and honored by his colleagues and employees for his outstanding accomplishments. He received numerous awards, including the Special Appreciation Award in Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in 1978 and top awards at the American Leaders Conference in 1973, including Lead Staff Manager and Annual Net Debit Increases Award. Beyond his comprehensive expertise in insurance, Mr. Mitchell offered his friends and clients his concern and care for their personal needs that extended far beyond their expectations, and many of his clients became life-long friends. Mr. Mitchell dedicated his life to serving the Lord and to the love of his life, his wife, Desiree. He pastored several churches, including the Fellowship Primitive Church at East Mountain, the Zions Primitive Baptist Church in Logansport, La; and the Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Troup, Texas. As a church leader, Mr. Mitchell conducted numerous funerals, weddings, memorials, and other church functions, where he took joy in serving the Lord. Mr. Mitchell?s concern for his community was evident in a variety of ways, most recently when he organized NE Texas Macular Degenertation Support Group at Buckner Westminster Place, in Longview, which serves the East Texas area. Even though Mr. Mitchell had been blind for almost three years, he spent much of his time encouraging and motivating others. He was actively involved in the Texas Commission for the Blind and was recognized by the State of Texas as an example for others with similar problems. Mr. Mitchell spent a great deal of time volunteering to bring happiness to others. He was a regular volunteer at Eastman Estates, where he offered hope and love to the residents, staff, and families. Ray Mitchell is survived by his loving wife, Desiree Mitchell of Longview; brother, Virgil Mitchell and his wife, Doris of Shreveport; brother, Elmer Mitchell and his wife, Jean of Opelika, Alabama; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, John and Bruce Mitchell. A special thanks goes to the staff at Longview Regional Hospital and to Doctors Charles Crumpler, George Saikin, and Charles R. Martin for the loving care they provided to Mr. Mitchell and his wife. Family visitation is 4 ? 6 PM Sunday, January 9th at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. Funeral services will be held 2 PM Monday, January 10th at Rader Chapel in Longview, followed by graveside services at Rosewood Park in Longview. Services will be conducted by Elders Vernis J. Stanaland, Gerald L. Read, and Dan Newman and song leader, Elder John Horner. Pallbearers will be Steve Cooper, Ed McGee, James E. Worley, Gerald Hall, Buck Lindsey, and Kyle Collier. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 529 Longview, TX 75606; The Blanche Woodall Memorial College Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 9153, Longview, TX 75608; or the NE Texas Macular Degeneration Support Group, P.O. Box 6816, Longview, TX 75608.

Raymond J. Mitchell

May 31, 1929 - January 7, 2005