Lorraine Mitchell

Lorraine Keltner Mitchell was born to Howard Lee and Ora Nelson Keltner on the family farm in Sivells Bend on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1912. She was the 7th child of 13 siblings. The first of her family to graduate high school, she then became a nanny for a local family before marrying Fred L. Mitchell on December 25, 1934 at her parent's home in a double wedding with her sister, Clara.

The newly married couple took up residence in Gainesville, eventually settling on Grand Avenue for many years before moving to their last residence on Meadow Drive. Lorraine and Fred had 4 children, Jean, Doris, Fred Harold (Mickey), and Philip.

Active in Grand Avenue Baptist Church for many years, the couple moved their membership to First Baptist Church in the early 1970's. Lorraine attended every week and was active in her Sunday School Class until arthritis prevented her from doing so. While she was able, Lorraine visited the sick and shut-in members of her class along with other friends, always taking with her a home-baked pie for which she was known.

Lorraine loved family gatherings and to have her family around her. Early on she discovered the best way to do so was to provide a meal. A wonderful cook, she was best known for her homemade biscuits, hot rolls, cornbread, and chocolate pie which were always requested by her family. As the years passed, she continued to love having her family near, although accepted help with meal preparation.

In 1959 Lorraine achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. After driving to TWU at Denton for a year she received her Vocational Nurses License. Beginning her nursing career at the old Gainesville Sanitarium on Lindsay St., she then did private duty nursing before finishing up her nursing career at the then new Gainesville Hospital on O'Neal St. Not satisfied with retirement, she then worked in the garden department at WalMart for several years.

As the birthdays accumulated and infirmities increased, Lorraine was eventually forced to give up her home and move to Assisted Living, first in Plano, then Gainesville's Wheeler House. In June she moved to Good Samaritan Village in Denton where she was living at the time of her death.

Lorraine was a faithful servant of the Living God and it was her earnest desire that people would come to know and live for her Savior the Lord Jesus Christ so that they may join her in His presence on the great Resurrection Morning. Attended by Philip, Joyce, and Corey, Lorraine departed this life and came into the presence of her Lord on January 1, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Village in Denton.

She is survived by her son and daughter in law Fred H. and Patti Mitchell of Humble, daughter and son in law Jean and Frank Harold Dyer of Springfield, VA, daughter Doris Mott of Plano, son and daughter in law Philip and Joyce Mitchell of Flower Mound, her sister Nina Tamplin of Gainesville, 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fred, her brothers Guy, Ilus, Estel, Roy, John, LeMoyne and Baby T.J. Keltner, her sisters Mary Susan Hurt, Lee Ora Beaver, Clara Ruth Coulter, and Inez Dvorack. She was also preceded in death by granddaughter Vanessa Mott Swain, RN, and by daughter-in-law Jackie Yates Mitchell.

Services will be 2pm Wednesday at First Baptist Church. Visitation is set for 6-8pm Tuesday at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. If desired, donations may be made to Good Samaritan Denton Village or American Hospice of Denton.