Travis Funeral Chapel

James Steven Mitchell, age 65 of rural La Plata, Missouri, passed away Sunday, September 23, 2018 at his home.

Born January 28, 1953 in Kirksville, Missouri, the son of James and Frances Jean (McGrath) Mitchell. On November 11, 1972 he was united in marriage to Karen Mixer. To this union two sons were born. On November 9, 2010 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he was united in marriage to Margie Kittle who survives.

Also surviving are his father and step-mother, James and Elizabeth Mitchell of Kentucky; two sons, Brian Mitchell and spouse of the state of Washington and Matthew Mitchell and spouse of Illinois; one brother, Dennis Mitchell and spouse of Illinois; two sisters, Donna Mitchell of Arizona and Carolyn Manley and spouse of Alabama; three grandchildren, Ella, Ian, and Owen Mitchell; one brother-in-law, Gary Knotts and wife Alberta of La Plata, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Marlene (Knotts) Jones of Springfield, Missouri; two nieces, two nephews, and a number of great nieces and nephews.

His mother and two nephews preceded him in death.

James was a 1971 graduate of Kirksville Bible School. He then attended East Central College and later graduated from Missouri State University with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry.

James spent 37 years in various ministries, including time as an ordained minister in the Nazarene church, hospital chaplaincy, senior residential care, and the past five years as pastor of the Gorin United Methodist Church.He also was a teacher's aide for two years at Atlanta C-3 Schools in Atlanta, Missouri. He was an avid camper, enjoyed reading and playing trumpet, and had an outstanding tenor voice.

James’s request was to be cremated. There will be a family memorial service at a later date.

Memorials in memory of James Steven Mitchell may be made to Hospice Compassus. They may be sent to or left at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, Missouri 63549.