Thomas E. Mitchell

Life is all about relationships and living in the present – with God, with family, with all people and all of God’s continuing creation and infinite love. My day by day – moment by moment - focus comes from the second stanza of Fred Kaan’s hymn text for Help Us Accept Each Other:

Teach us, O Christ, your lessons, as in our daily life,

We struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.

Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,

To love them as we find them, or as they may become.

Tom Mitchell – June, 2015

Thomas Eugene Mitchell died peacefully on Monday afternoon, June 21, 2021 surrounded by the family who adored him – those at his bedside and those far away. His death marked the end to a long and courageous battle with Inclusion Body Myositis.

Tom was born on February 2, 1947 to John Thomas Mitchell and Doris Eujean Mitchell in Bunch, Oklahoma – in the Methodist parsonage on the Native American reservation where his grandparents served as mission workers for the Methodist Church. There was not a nursery in the little church, so Tom sat on the piano bench next to his mother while she provided music for the worship service. His grandmother heard 5 year old Tom playing Silent Night one Sunday after church. She bought a piano and found a teacher the next week. He moved to Augusta, Kansas in 1958 and graduated from Augusta High School in 1965. His undergraduate education continued at Friends University in Wichita, KS, where a Bachelor of Music degree (piano performance) was conferred in May, 1969.

His education was interrupted by his military service in the United States Air Force from 1969-1972. He spent the majority of time with the USAF European Headquarters Band in Wiesbaden, Germany, as leader of the Diplomats Combo which provided music throughout the European Embassies. The Combo was in Moscow for the signing of the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty by Presidents Nixon and Brezhnev. Tom was awarded the Presidential Commendation medal.

Following his military service, Tom’s education continued at the University of Illinois (choral literature and conducting) where a Masters of Music degree was conferred in June, 1974. His doctoral study in conducting and composition continued at the University of Oklahoma. Tom worked as a staff arranger for the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. He created the arrangement of Oklahoma that is still used when the band enters the field at home football games.

Before moving to Austin, TX in 2001, Tom served as Director of Music Ministry at Westwood Presbyterian Church (Wichita, KS), Faith United Methodist Church (Champaign, IL), Plymouth Congregational Church (Wichita, KS), Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (Houston, TX), First Presbyterian Church (Nashville, TN) and Woodmont Christian Church (Nashville, TN). Other professional work during this same time included Staff Arranger (University of Illinois Marching Band), Instructor (Indian Springs School/Birmingham, AL) Founding Conductor (Kansas Chorale), Founding Director (Wichita Symphony Chorus), Musical Director (Nashville Symphony Chorus), Pops Conductor (Nashville Symphony Orchestra), and Musical Director (Tennessee Repertory Theatre in Nashville, Stage One Productions in Wichita, Music Theatre for Young People in Wichita and Music Theatre of Wichita).

After moving to Austin the day after his May 16, 2001 wedding to Mary Helen, Tom shared his musical and administrative gifts with the staff and congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church. He had responsibility for the youth choir, music and worship leadership for the 11:15 worship service, and other musical work as assigned including leadership of the monthly Service for Wholeness. From 2001-2005, Tom also worked as Associate Musical Director for Austin Musical Theatre and Musical Director and Artist Teacher for the Junior Company of Austin Musical Theatre which later became Broadway Texas.

In 2008, Tom completed his study at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. A Master of Divinity degree was conferred in May, 2008. He served as Associate Pastor for Discipleship beginning on March 29, 2009, the date of his ordination as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and his installation as a called pastor at Covenant. He was honorably retired from pastoral ministry on December 31, 2012.

Following his retirement, Tom continued to work – first as Part-time Director of Music Ministry at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and finally as Part-time Director of Music Ministry at United Christian Church, both in Austin.

Tom had responsibility for spiritual direction with people on the journey of recovery from substance abuse and addiction both at Covenant and with Texas Star Recovery. He had continued involvement with Texas Star and other recovery programs during retirement.

Tom is a published composer and arranger for choir, concert band, marching band, musical theatre and organ with Choristers Guild, Augsburg, Hal Leonard, Jenson, Coronet Press, Fred Bock Music, Wingert-Jones Music, Shawnee Press and others. His arrangements are available on commercial recordings by Michael Crawford and The American Boy Choir.

Left to cherish Tom’s memory is his wife, Mary Helen, who respected the musical genius that he demonstrated, but far beyond his talent, loved more than words the kind, gentle, loving man he was. He leaves a daughter, Heather Mitchell-Buck (Terry Buck) as well as Mary Helen’s daughters who became his own: Keely Elwood (Rich), Erin Loney (Chris) and Amy Love (John Meadows). The six grandchildren who called him “Poppy” were the unabated joy of his life, and he would have done anything for them. They include his granddaughters Shelton Elwood, Parker Elwood, and Hazel Meadows and his grandsons Stephen Meadows, Collin Tyndall and Reagan Loney. Mary Helen’s extended family lovingly embraced Tom as one with them, and he made the journey to the Armstrong Family Reunion in Island Park, Idaho every year following their marriage until Inclusion Body Myositis made travel impossible. He claimed Mary Helen’s brother John Turnquist (Kathy) as his own brother.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and his first wife, Linda Mitchell. Also to precede Tom are Mary Helen’s mother, aunt, and sister.

Tom’s life will be celebrated at 3:00pm on Friday afternoon, August 13, 2021 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Rev. Jill Williams officiating. His family will be honored by your presence.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Music Department of Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3003 Northland Drive, Austin, TX 78757 or to the charity of your choice.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8