Willie "Joe" Mitchell
Oct. 19, 1935 – Jan. 29, 2023
Willie "Joe" Mitchell was born Oct. 19, 1935 to Bill Mitchell and Laura Spillers Mitchell at their home in East Liberty, about five miles east of Hanna, Oklahoma, and passed away at Walnut Grove Nursing Facility in McAlester on Jan. 29, 2023.
Growing up in the Hanna area in the 1930s and 1940s was the classic American rural lifestyle. Joe's parents had a farm where they grew crops that would be sold to locals as well as in farmers' markets in surrounding larger cities.
Joe had the responsibility of helping with all of the crops as well as milking as many as 16 cows before and after school. Joe also worked in a local grocery store in Hanna where he learned to speak some Creek in order to help the local native people.
Joe graduated from Hanna High School in 1953 and attended Connors State College for a time before beginning a career in music that would ultimately earn him Hanna's "Distinguished Alumni of the Year" in 2004 for his outstanding contribution to the music industry.
At an early age Joe became an outstanding musician, playing virtually any string instrument including piano, guitar, banjo and violin. While still in high school he played piano on a radio program on KNED in McAlester, Oklahoma and did military service in the Army in 1959-1960.
Three great loves in his life were friends and family, music and Studebakers.
Joe attended mechanics school and became owner/operator of carburetor shops, etc. in McAlester, Fort Smith, Ark., and Owasso, Oklahoma.
At the same time Joe was playing music with many people who would later become household names. Among those were The Bellamy Brothers, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Hank Thompson, George Jones, Johnny Horton and many others.
His musical abilities extended to all types of music, including Rock & Roll and Western Swing.
Joe's many awards include membership in three Western Swing Halls of Fame: Seattle (Northwest), Sacramento (Calif.) and OK-TX (Southwest).
While playing Dixieland Jazz in many places around Tulsa Joe had the opportunity to play for Pres. George H.W. Bush when he made a campaign appearance there.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Laura Mitchell, one daughter, Cheri Lloyd of Mo. And her son Nathan, and a host of other relatives and friends.
He is survived by: wife, Charlotte Mitchell of the home and her children, Mike, Kevin and Jason and their children.
Also, one sister, Darlene and husband Jack Mouser of Krebbs, Okla. And their children Blane and Bryan and their children, Brynn and Reilly Mouser, Dani and husband Vance Roth and son Gavin.
Also, one daughter, Vicki and husband Bill Deane of Sikeston, Mol and their children: Sarah, Kristen, Leah, Jennifer, Ben, Lauren, Will and Clay.
Also, son Paul Mitchell of Tulsa, Okla., and children Levi, Nissim, Yaell, Hadassah, Adi and Ronin.
Also, son Steven Mitchell of Glenpool, Okla.
Also, son Chris Mitchell and wife Shirley of Tulsa and their children Alexandria, Brandon and Cory and their children Christian Mitchell and Noah Mitchell.
Also, son Tony Mitchell and wife Nikkie of Glenpool, Okla., and their children Isaac, Ashley, Jennifer and Matthew.
A Memorial Service/Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Hanna First Baptist Church at 2 p.m.
Oct. 19, 1935 – Jan. 29, 2023
Willie "Joe" Mitchell was born Oct. 19, 1935 to Bill Mitchell and Laura Spillers Mitchell at their home in East Liberty, about five miles east of Hanna, Oklahoma, and passed away at Walnut Grove Nursing Facility in McAlester on Jan. 29, 2023.
Growing up in the Hanna area in the 1930s and 1940s was the classic American rural lifestyle. Joe's parents had a farm where they grew crops that would be sold to locals as well as in farmers' markets in surrounding larger cities.
Joe had the responsibility of helping with all of the crops as well as milking as many as 16 cows before and after school. Joe also worked in a local grocery store in Hanna where he learned to speak some Creek in order to help the local native people.
Joe graduated from Hanna High School in 1953 and attended Connors State College for a time before beginning a career in music that would ultimately earn him Hanna's "Distinguished Alumni of the Year" in 2004 for his outstanding contribution to the music industry.
At an early age Joe became an outstanding musician, playing virtually any string instrument including piano, guitar, banjo and violin. While still in high school he played piano on a radio program on KNED in McAlester, Oklahoma and did military service in the Army in 1959-1960.
Three great loves in his life were friends and family, music and Studebakers.
Joe attended mechanics school and became owner/operator of carburetor shops, etc. in McAlester, Fort Smith, Ark., and Owasso, Oklahoma.
At the same time Joe was playing music with many people who would later become household names. Among those were The Bellamy Brothers, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Hank Thompson, George Jones, Johnny Horton and many others.
His musical abilities extended to all types of music, including Rock & Roll and Western Swing.
Joe's many awards include membership in three Western Swing Halls of Fame: Seattle (Northwest), Sacramento (Calif.) and OK-TX (Southwest).
While playing Dixieland Jazz in many places around Tulsa Joe had the opportunity to play for Pres. George H.W. Bush when he made a campaign appearance there.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Laura Mitchell, one daughter, Cheri Lloyd of Mo. And her son Nathan, and a host of other relatives and friends.
He is survived by: wife, Charlotte Mitchell of the home and her children, Mike, Kevin and Jason and their children.
Also, one sister, Darlene and husband Jack Mouser of Krebbs, Okla. And their children Blane and Bryan and their children, Brynn and Reilly Mouser, Dani and husband Vance Roth and son Gavin.
Also, one daughter, Vicki and husband Bill Deane of Sikeston, Mol and their children: Sarah, Kristen, Leah, Jennifer, Ben, Lauren, Will and Clay.
Also, son Paul Mitchell of Tulsa, Okla., and children Levi, Nissim, Yaell, Hadassah, Adi and Ronin.
Also, son Steven Mitchell of Glenpool, Okla.
Also, son Chris Mitchell and wife Shirley of Tulsa and their children Alexandria, Brandon and Cory and their children Christian Mitchell and Noah Mitchell.
Also, son Tony Mitchell and wife Nikkie of Glenpool, Okla., and their children Isaac, Ashley, Jennifer and Matthew.
A Memorial Service/Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Hanna First Baptist Church at 2 p.m.
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