Thomas Manning Mitchell, Jr.'s Obituary
Thomas Manning Mitchell, Jr.
Thomas Manning Mitchell, Jr. was born in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, on July 25, 1920. On September 22, 2010, he took his place in that circle that will one day be unbroken. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, September 25th at Holy Trinity Community Church, 3800 Judson Road, Longview, Texas. The Rev. Dr. David Jenkins will officiate. In honoring Tom's wishes, cremation arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview.
Tom or Manning in some quarters was born to Thomas Manning Mitchell and Exa Gandy Mitchell, and raised during the Great Depression in rural north Louisiana. He attended school in Homer, and worked most of his life in the tire business. He moved his young family from Ruston to Longview in 1954, and retired from Skaggs Rubber Co. in Longview in 1985. He was a cheerful, outgoing man, who enjoyed nothing more than telling, or hearing a story.
He was a survivor, having lived through Encephalitis at age 6, being struck by lightning at 8, and bitten by a rabid dog at 10. Having made it through those trials, he enjoyed general good health until recent weeks.
He married the love of his life, Mary Abney Mitchell, and Thanksgiving Day would have been their 65th anniversary. They worked hard and dedicated themselves to their family and friends. After his retirement they traveled North America extensively, and delighted in seeing what was over the next hill. They were active in several churches, most recently Holy Trinity, where he was the eldest member.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Mitchell of Longview; three sons, Tom Mitchell III of East Mountain; Joe Mitchell and wife Charlotte of Indian Rock; Bill Mitchell and wife Cristi of Tyler; grandson John Mitchell and wife Stephanie and son Davin; granddaughter Anna Mitchell, all of Tyler; sister Janie Mitchell Thomas and husband Robert Pitts Thomas, and their children Robert Thomas and Susan Williams, all of Gibsland, Louisiana.
No flowers, please, contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Church, 3800 Judson Rd., Longview, TX 75605, or Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, 3117 W. Marshall Ave., Longview, TX 75604.
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