John Huie Mitchell
May 27, 2018
John H. Mitchell, 87, of Gainesville, Florida, passed away after a long illness on Sunday, May 27, 2018, at home surrounded by numerous family members. He was born at home in 1930 in Henry County, Georgia, graduated from Jonesboro High School, and attended the University of Georgia’s Atlanta Division (now Georgia State University). He had been a Gainesville resident since 1971.
John is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara Fitch Mitchell; their five children, Cecilia Ann Mitchell of Jacksonville, Florida, Cindy Elizabeth Oakes of St. Johns, Florida, John Anthony Mitchell of Gainesville, Mary Angela Bowyer of Vilano Beach, Florida, and Jennifer Raye Mitchell of Atlanta, Georgia; their ten grandchildren, Jessica, Lindsay, Angela, Adrianna, John, Trevor, Carson, Michael, Zane, and Dell; and their three great-grandchildren, Justin, Jenna, and Madeleine. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie M. Conkle and Arthur Cecil Mitchell, as well as his three brothers and one sister.
He enlisted in the U. S Navy at the age of 17 and served from 1947 to 1954, last aboard the submarine U.S.S. Grenadier (SS-525) as Electrician-2nd Class, serving during the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed staying in touch with other veteran members of the Grenadier’s crew and attended their reunions for several years.
He was self-employed as an accountant and business management consultant for many years and later owned several Gainesville and Ocala Chevron service stations until his retirement.
John was an avid Gator fan and long-time football and basketball season ticket holder. He rarely missed a chance to watch the Gators play, regardless of the sport.
He was a member and past president of the Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club, a member of Ducks Unlimited, and a founding member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out).
John cherished family above all else and was known throughout his extended family as a "baby whisperer". Through the years, he enjoyed bird-watching, fishing, golfing, shooting pool, water-skiing, snow-skiing, gardening, and stock car racing. Until very recently, he amazed and amused his children by solving the newspaper’s Jumble word puzzle every day.
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Going to miss your stories that I loved so much as well as your sense of humor
God bless you all; what a wonderful husband and father my cousin was! My heart hurts for each one of you, I’m praying for the great comforter to surround you now and in the days to come. I love you all
My heart and thoughts are with the Mitchell family. May you always hold your memories near and dear to you heart. ❤️
i tried this once, but my heart is too full to write how I feel. I will miss you forever, and I choose to believe you are with mama and your other loved ones. I know Aunt Barbara and my cousins are going to have a tough time be a you were bigger than life. You were SO intellectual and so funny at the same time. Oh how you loved babies, and how they would take to you so happily. Daddy has been quiet today, he told me you always treated him like family and he will never forget you taking him to the Master’s Golf tournament. So, I say, goodbye, precious Uncle, until we are all together again. I will love you forever 💕
i tried this once, but my heart is too full to write how I feel. I will miss you forever, and I choose to believe you are with mama and your other loved ones. I know Aunt Barbara and my cousins are going to have a tough time, you were bigger than life. You were SO intellectual and so funny at the same time. Oh how you loved babies, and how they would take to you so happily. Daddy has been quiet today, he told me you always treated him like family and he will never forget you taking him to the Master’s Golf tournament. So, I say, goodbye, precious Uncle, until we are all together again. I will love you forever 💕
I did not know Cee’s Dad, John, personally but I so enjoyed her many stories about him. Great dads are hard to come by in my book. He was certainly one and meant a lot to his children and family. I am glad there are so many fun and great stories about the joy this man spread. My deepest sympathies at this time. I know he is missed.
Our family grieves with you on your loss