Alfred Richard Mitchell, Jr.

Al passed away peacefully at home in hospice care with Karen, his wife of 22+ years by his side. He was born in Suffern, NY and raised in New Jersey. Al loved to tell everyone that he got to Texas as soon as he could because in Texas, “You don’t shovel heat.” He was preceded in death by his father Alfred R. Mitchell, Sr., Mother Elsie Lillian Tonjas Mitchell, sister Elsie Lillian Glinkin and son-in-law Kevin Cagle.

Besides his wife, Karen, he is survived by his son Alfred “Mitch” Mitchell III and wife Pam, daughter Melissa Groves and husband Mark, daughter Megan Parrish and husband Rick, and stepdaughter Kasey Johnson; grandchildren Madelyn, Hunter and Quinn Mitchell, Carter, Kelly and Jackson Baralt, Austen and Anna Cagle; 2 nieces Patricia and Katherine Glinkin.

Al was proud to have served in the US Air Force Reserves and then was called to active duty overseas in Kunsan, Korea for 18 months. In civilian life he was a salesperson for most of his career, taking early retirement from Carrier Corp. after 15 years as a territory rep and manager. He also worked in media for an ad agency, a national advertising circular and Money Mailer, a direct mail marketing franchise. He and Karen owned a Money Mailer franchise and achieved recognition in the national 2003 All Stars Club their first year in business. When that business ended in 2010, he went to work part time for an Ident-a-kid franchise, a school program to help ensure the safety of children.

He loved God, his wife, children, grandchildren, mother-in-law Dorothy “Dolly” Attkisson, brother and sister-in-law Keith Williams and Joane Rylander and many other relatives and friends. He was also a patient and devoted father to his stepdaughter Kasey, who he loved as his own. Al was an avid photographer and loved taking pictures of diverse scenery, flowers, birds, and family gatherings. Other interests included reading, cooking/baking and even writing poetry. Al also was an active and respected member of the Al-Anon Family Groups since 2009 and sponsored numerous men in their recovery. He felt he received as much, if not more, from them as he gave. Al and Karen took memorable vacations to Playa del Carmen, the Texas coast, Laguna Beach, CA, Epcot, FL, Colorado, New Jersey, Costa Rica and just last year to Cabo San Lucas on a whim. Al and Karen were competitive with each other and played a game of Gin Rummy almost every day for the past 11-12 years. Al played on a dart league long before he and Karen got together but gave it up soon after they were married. However, he did get an electric dart board and he taught Karen to shoot well enough to beat him, much to his chagrin.

Al’s first battle with cancer began in 2021 but with chemotherapy and radiation he beat it. Then in early 2023 he had a recurrence that metastasized from the throat to the lungs. The prognosis was “treatable but not curable.” He remained positive until the very end. He said he was not afraid of death because as a Christian he knew absolutely where he was going. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.

If you wish to make a memorial contribution in Al’s name, please consider St. Jude’s Childrens’ Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society.