Everett Ray Mitchell

Everett Ray Mitchell, son of the late John William and Mary Irene (Whitlock) Mitchell, was born July 23, 1937, in Whiting, Missouri. He passed away May 25, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was 81 years, 10 months, and 2 days of age.

Everett graduated from East Prairie High School in 1955 and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1959 with degrees in Industrial Arts Education and Art. He also received a Master’s Degree in Education and Industrial Arts in 1969.

On June 4, 1961, Everett married Nancy Lee Bollinger and they had four children.

Everett had a career in education that lasted 35 years. Everett started teaching by opening the shop at Morley Van Duser High School where he worked 3 years. He spent the next 11 years as an Industrial Arts teacher at East Prairie High School where he taught wood-working and drafting. He spent the next 6 years as Junior High Principal at Houston (MO) High School, and the remainder of his career as the Director of the Vocational-Technical School at Mountain Grove (MO) High School.

After retiring from the school system Everett had more time to spend enjoying his favorite hobbies which included hunting, fishing, camping, wood-working, gardening, and yardwork. One of his other favorite pastimes was spending time with his grandsons. He and Nancy were often on the road to watch one of the boys running cross country, participating in academic competitions, and/or playing baseball. Everett also enjoyed using his wood-working skills to create items for his grandsons. Everett enjoyed spending his winters in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where he sang in the Men of Accord – men’s barber shop choir. Bicycling, playing bocce ball and chatting with friends were some of his highlights at the RV Park.

Besides his parents, Everett was preceded in death by an infant son, Everett Scott Mitchell, two brothers, Andy Clayton Mitchell and Jimmie Dale Mitchell, and one sister, Shirley Ann Mitchell.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy Mitchell, of Mountain Grove, one son, Gregory Mitchell of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, two daughters, Penny Berry and her husband, John, of Rogersville, Missouri, and Michelle Pointer and her husband, David, of Gainesville, Missouri, four grandchildren, Derek Berry, Jason Berry, Thomas Pointer, and Benjamin Pointer, and many other relatives and friends who will miss him very much.