Eathel Smith Mitchell

Eathel Louise Cates was born October 14, 1927, as the middle daughter of Eunice William Cates and Cora Ellen Nichols. She grew up in the Walnut Grove Community, attending Whitehouse Schools but graduated from Frankston High School. She married the love of her life and the father of her three children, Jack L.M. Smith on Dec. 31, 1945. She worked about 50 years for American National Insurance Co., retiring three times. On July 9, 1998, she married Art Mitchell and they enjoyed their retirement years dancing and traveling

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She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, her two husbands and other beloved relatives.

She is survived by her two sons, Jerry Smith, Ronnie Smith and her daughter Karen S. Kerr and their spouses.

Mrs. Mitchell will be missed by her grandchildren, Clint, Chad and Seth Smith, Crystal Rogers, Kristi K. Peer, Marc and Andrew Kerr, Julie Smith Franklin, Melissa Braswell, Philip Smith and their spouses. She is also survived by her twenty-one great- grandchildren, her sister, Violet Davis and other beloved family members.

A visitation will be held at 2:00pm, one hour before the service at 3:00pm on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at Lloyd James Funeral Home, with Matthew Peer officiating.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Hospice of East Texas.