Leona Ann Mitchell…September 1, 1941 – June 6, 2018

September 1, 1941 was a day of celebration for Kyrle and Dorothy Seals when their daughter, Leona Ann, was born in Syracuse, Kansas. She was named after two of her grandmothers and was the youngest of five siblings. The family of seven soon moved to Lamar in Southeast Colorado where they resided for several generations to come.

Ann — as she preferred to be called — was a lover of animals. During her childhood, it was commonplace to find a shoebox in her bedroom containing some small critter she had rescued. As an adult, she would often surprise her family when she’d stop to scoot a bull snake or turtle across the road to prevent them from being hit by a car.

As a teenager Ann worked as a cashier at the Lamar Theater as well as the Arrow Drive-In Theater. She was a hard worker and spent 10 years as a shipping clerk at Sears catalog store. She later worked as an executive secretary at Lamar Community College and then as receptionist at First National Bank in Paonia, CO.

Ann met the love of her life when she was only 14. She often recalled that she knew immediately that he was the man she would marry someday. The feeling was mutual for Ken as he could barely take his eyes off her anytime they were together. Three months after she graduated from Lamar Union High School, Kenneth Gene Mitchell and Ann were married on August 27, 1959.

Ann was a wonderful mother to her children and was always finding ways to educate them. It was her guidance and influence that gave them exceptional spelling and grammar skills. She also taught them other skills…to sew, embroidery, crochet…even how to build a campfire during their many camping trips.

Everyone who knew Ann quickly realized that she was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She loved the Lord and shared that love with her family and friends. In later years, she and her husband Ken were involved in several Bible studies during their 15 years in Paonia, CO.

Ann was a lover of babies and nothing could bring a smile to her face like her grandchildren. She was there when many of them came into the world and she spent many hours and sleepless nights helping to feed, bathe and soothe all of her babies. Every grandchild felt the love of their Nana.

On June 6, 2018, the Lord took Ann’s hand to reunite her with her mother and father; two brothers, Ralph and Kyrle; her husband of 55 years, Ken; and twin daughters Shawn and Dawn.

Ann’s ingenuity, common sense, quick wit and never ending love will be carried on for generations to come. In addition to numerous friends, nieces, nephews and cousins, Ann is survived by her sister Lucille Hutchison of Grand Junction, CO; brother Kenneth Seals & Cheryl of Colorado Springs, CO; sisters-in-law Mitzie Seals of Eckert, CO; Barbara Mitchell of Delta, CO; Virginia Allen of Lamar, CO and brother-in-law Max Moss of Barstow, CA;

Children: Misty Mitchell of Delta, CO; Dede Blake & TJ of Grand Junction, CO and Todd Mitchell & Kelly of Northridge, CA; Grandchildren: Kimbra Birchler & Matt of Commerce City, CO; Jeff Clark of Santa Monica, CA; Kali Devor & Matt of Montrose, CO; Jordan Hall of Denver, CO and Margaret and Molly Mitchell of Northridge, CA; and Great-Grandchildren: Cora, Mark, Emma and Abigail Birchler, all of Commerce City, CO.

Contributions in memory of Ann are greatly appreciated at Hope West Hospice in Grand Junction, CO online at https://www.hopewestco.org/memorial-gifts/ or at 970-241-2212.