Obituary for Vernon Mitchell

Ponca City Now - November 26, 2015 12:00 am

Vernon Mitchell

(March 11, 1937 – November 26, 2015)

Vernon Gorman Mitchell of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Thursday morning, November 26, 2015, in the AllianceHealth Blackwell at the age of 78 years.

Vernon Gorman Mitchell was born on March 11, 1937, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Gorman Hans and Flora Henrietta (Landwehr) Mitchell. He was baptized in the Hawley Baptist Church. He grew up in Grant County attending Eagle Grove School before transferring to Nash Public Schools where he graduated from Nash High School in 1955. He furthered his education by attending Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva for two years. He married Thelma Ruth Stone on June 7, 1957, in the Hawley Baptist Church in Hawley, Oklahoma, and they settled in Enid where he began selling Kirby Vacuum Cleaners. He sold Kirby Vacuums in Enid, Alva, Cherokee and Blackwell, as well as Colby and Dodge City, Kansas. In 1965 he began his Kirby Vacuum Cleaner Shop and Blackwell House of Carpets in Blackwell. He also invested in real estate acquiring numerous properties in Blackwell. In 1978 he sold his carpet and vacuum business, but continued in real estate. He enjoyed trout fishing and loved to fish and stay at Roaring River in Missouri. He enjoyed solving puzzles and spending time with his entire family and playing trains with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Thelma Mitchell of Blackwell; two daughters, Sharron Blubaugh and husband Ray of Oklahoma City, and Shirley Zimmerman and husband Steve of Orange, Texas; a sister, Mary Jones and husband Monte of Wakita; grandchildren, Corley Zimmerman and wife Mindy of Broken Arrow, Stephanie Zimmerman Criswell and husband Brian of Frisco, Texas, Angela Zimmerman Eaves and husband Mark of Conroe, Texas, and Mitch McNamara and wife Stephanie of Oklahoma City; a great grandchild, Logan Zimmerman of Broken Arrow; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Mark and Johnny Mitchell.

Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 30th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel in Blackwell with Rev. Randy Ratliff of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Corley Zimmerman, Mitch McNamara, Jeff Mitchell, Michael Mitchell, Chet Stone and Jason Kemnitz.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for heart research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.