John David Mitchell Sr.

Deacon John David Mitchell Sr., also known to his family as “JD,” was born September 5, 1922 in Kildare, Texas to the late George Mitchell Sr. and the late Eddie Mae Gross Mitchell. He was the 2nd child born to this union. Deacon Mitchell accepted Christ at a very early age at St. John Baptist Church in Kildare, Texas. At the age of twelve he was serving as a Junior Deacon.  Deacon Mitchell attended grade school and high school in Kildare, Texas. Deacon Mitchell joined the army at age 17 during World War II and served his country well.  He was proud of his service and wore his Veteran of Foreign War hat with pride. On December 25, 1941, Deacon Mitchell married the first love of his life, the late Rodessa Annettte Mitchell. To this union were born 13 children:  four sons: Baby Boy Mitchell (1942), Earl Ray Mitchell (1965), Curtis Lavon Mitchell (1991), and Marvin Glenn Mitchell (2005). Four brothers and four sisters all preceded him in death. Deacon Mitchell’s father was a visionary, encouraging his children to leave the South looking forward to the new age of industrial labor.  In the late 1940s Deacon Mitchell moved his family to West Richland, Washington where he was employed on the janitorial crew working at the McNary Dam.  In the mid-1950s he heard about a progressive minister, the late Dr. Rev. O. B. Williams and wanted to be part of that ministry.  He begins looking and found employment in the Portland area and in September 1956 he moved his family to Portland.  Deacon Mitchell loved the Lord and served in many ministries.  He served as Deacon of Vancouver Avenue First BC, New Hope BC, and Greater New Hope BC; member of the Gospel Choir, Sunday School teacher, Superintendent of Sunday School, and served as Deacon for the Pacific Northwest Convention Ushers. Deacon Mitchell worked and retired from several companies: Esco (28 years), school bus company (10 years), and Tri-Met (12 years).  During the summers through the mid-1960s after working at Esco all night he would join his family at the Oregon Trail Farms.  You can hear Deacon Mitchell saying “if a man don’t work, he don’t eat.” After the death of his first love of 47 years (Rodessa), he married his second love in 1999, Rosa Gachet.  Rosa made our dad very happy. They both traveled and cruised the world, going to the Mediterranean Sea, Europe, Panama Canal, Alaska, Virgin Islands, Mexico, Caribbean and many places in the United States. Deacon Mitchell leaves to celebrate his home going, his wife Rosa Gachet, 10 children: Raymond, Cal (Marva), Jewell Norman, John Jr. (Jane), Barbara, Jefferson Gachet (Dennis Fay), all of Portland; Arthur (Natalie) of Southlake, Texas, Pamela Marshall, Jimmie, of Jacksonville, FL, Gregory of Oakland, California; two brothers, Norris Mitchell Sr., Seattle, Washington, James Melvin Mitchell, Houston, Texas, and 1 sister Inez Jefferson of Dallas, Texas, 25 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren and special friends Beatrice Moore and Barbara Propps.  He leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.