Maureen Mitchell

Maureen Patricia Mitchell, aged 80, died peacefully on June 23, 2016 following a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Maureen was born on December 4, 1935 to Ann Marie and Arthur Kessler of San Francisco, California.

Maureen epitomized the saying "behind every strong man there is a stronger woman". Maureen married the love of her life, (then Captain) Col. Frederick Mitchell, U.S. Army, in 1961 and began her life as an Army wife. She waited faithfully while her husband deployed to Korea six short months after they were married, and dutifully took care of their two children and their home during Fred's two combat tours to Vietnam. Maureen made the family home wherever the Army stationed Fred, whether it was in Hawaii, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, or many stateside posts.

Fred retired from the Army in 1980, and he and Maureen moved to El Paso, Texas. In 1996 they moved to Garden Ridge, Texas, where they traveled to Texas Aggie football games and spent time with family, friends, and most importantly, their grandchildren. Fred passed away in 2005. Maureen spent the past several years living in Melbourne, Florida to be near her sister, Terry, her brother Ray, and many of the friends she made during Fred's military career.

Maureen is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Mitchell Jones of Neenah, Wisconsin, her son, John E. Mitchell, of Dallas, her son-in-law, Jim Jones, her daughter-in-law, Paula K. Mitchell, grandchildren James and Clayton Jones and Caroline and Thomas Mitchell, sister Theresa Ball, brother Raymond Kessler, sister-in-law Doris Berry, brother-in-law Norman Berry, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

There will be a graveside service at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 1st. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name to St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org).