Mitchell William Reynolds

Mitchell William Reynolds, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, died on November 2, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. Mitchell was born to Lewis and Marjorie (Todd) Reynolds in Denver, Colorado, on December 6, 1937. He spent his childhood with his siblings, Todd, Roger

(deceased), and Noel, on his family’s farm on Mississippi Ave and attended Ashgrove School and South High School. Working alongside his father, Mitchell developed an abiding love for the land and a deep appreciation for beauty in all of its forms. He was an active participant in 4H, raising and showing animals and produce at the Denver Stock Show. He was a member of the band and ROTC and

regularly participated in science competitions, which he often won. He and his family donated time and talents to the Denver Rescue Mission on a regular basis. Mitchell was proud of his small handwriting and his ability to draw a detailed map of the United States the size of a postage stamp!

After high school, Mitchell attended Harvard University. His love of geography, the land, and science led him into the field of geology. He received his BA in Geology in 1959. He continued his education in geology at the University of California, Berkeley, as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. He did his Ph.D. thesis work in Death Valley, California, where he mapped the stratigraphy and structural geology of the Titus and Titanothere Canyons. Guidebooks of Death Valley National Park continue to describe his manuscript and maps as “the definitive geologic works on this region.”

In the autumn of 1963, Mitchell began his career with the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.), primarily studying the geology of south-central Wyoming. In 1969 he returned to Berkeley as an Assistant Professor of Geology, but in 1972 he rejoined the U.S.G.S., where he served until 2019. In addition to south-central Wyoming, south-eastern California, and southern Nevada, Mitchell’s field work

focused primarily on Montana, particularly the Helena, White Sulphur Springs, and Gates of the Wilderness areas. From 1988 - 1994, Mitchell was Chief of the Office of Regional Geology, responsible for the operations of the Geologic Division of the U.S.G.S., including the National Geologic Mapping Program. Of the hundreds of his maps, papers, reports, and abstracts published over the course of his career, Mitchell took particular pride as one of the principal authors of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act published by Congress in 1992. He was also proud of his work on the Cartographic and Digital Standard for Geologic Map Information, which standardized geologic information on both digital and printed maps. He loved leading field trips, teaching, presenting at conferences, and counseling states and organizations, both national and international, about geology, the earth’s resources, and their uses.

Mitchell was an active member of the Geological Society of America, the American Geological Institute, the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG), and the Colorado Scientific Society. He especially enjoyed his role in selecting student candidates for scholarships in geologic study through the RMAG.

In the spring of 1963, mutual friends introduced Mitchell to the love of his life, Sandra Pettinga. Mitchell told Sandra, though, that if she was not able to live in the field while he mapped, he was not the right man for her. She told him she could do it, and she did. They married in October of that year and have three

children: Elizabeth, Lenora and Eliot. The family spent every summer either in a tent or trailer in mountain fields and meadows with no running water or electricity. Mitchell mapped while Sandra and the children explored, read, and played games. Once a week the family went into town to do laundry and shopping and to get water, new library books, and ice cream, Mitchell’s favorite!

Mitchell never met a stranger; wherever he went, he treated people with kindness, respect, and humor and made them feel seen. He nurtured his lifelong friendships and made new friends easily. He was a loving and generous brother. He lived a life of service, participating on committees in churches, communities, and charitable functions wherever he could. He loved teaching about geology and fossils to

Elizabeth’s students; several of those students have gone on to study and pursue careers in geology. Mitchell’s indefatigable love for learning led to his enjoyment of music, photography, gardening, baking, woodwork, and travel. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in church and community choirs. He and Sandra traveled extensively. This October they joyfully celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Mitchell especially loved spending time and playing with his four grandchildren.

He shared his incredible eye for beauty and sense of humor with them and cheered

them on in all their activities.

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Sandra, his children, Elizabeth, Lenora (Keith Berets), and Eliot (Candice), his grandchildren, Lillian, Samuel, Jeremy, and Crash, his brother, Todd, and his sister Noel (Larry McCain) as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Community United Church of Christ in Boulder, Colorado, followed by a reception at the Reynolds-Berets home.