Phoebe Mitchell

Phoebe LaVena Mitchell, 92 of Greentop, MO passed away Wednesday (December 30, 2015) at Northeast Regional Medical Center.

LaVena was born on August 29, 1923 in Putnam County, MO, the eighth of three daughters and seven sons born to William B. and Phoebe E. (Sparks) Richardson. On April 4, 1942 she was married to Robert Delton Mitchell in Kirksville, MO who preceded her in death on February 1, 2010. To this marriage three children were born, Billy D., Larry Bob and Brenda Sue.

LaVena attended elementary school at Martinstown, MO and graduated from Unionville High School in 1941.

She and her husband lived the first two years of their marriage on one of the Mitchell Farms near Hartford, MO. In 1944 she moved with her young son to Seattle, Washington to be with her husband who was serving with the U.S. Navy. In 1946, after his discharge they moved to Adair County where they lived in Novinger for 19 years. In 1953 she and her husband opened Mitchell Used Cars and in 1964 moved their business and home to Greentop.

LaVena traveled with the family drag racing team across the USA and was a valuable member of the pit crew keeping watch over the pit area and made sure everyone was well fed.

LaVena is survived by two sons, Bill Mitchell and Larry (Joy) Mitchell of Kirksville; seven grandchildren, Shane (Shelley) Western of Kirksville, Sabrina Mitchell of Independence, MO, Jill (DeWayne) Chainey of Springfield, MO Shawna (Chad) Hudson of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Tiffany Jo Mitchell of Warrensburg, MO Michele Hope Mitchell of Ft. Collins, CO, Mariah Mitchell of Hannibal, MO; Nine great grandchildren, Keely, Kaylee, Bo and Gunner Western, Calvin and Sophia Chainey, Brenden and Reese Hudson and Laikyn Mitchell. Also surviving are one sister, Mary Virginia (Bill) Coy of Apache Junction, AZ; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Richardson of Unionville and Doris Richardson of Unionville and several nieces and nephew.

In addition to her husband, LaVena was preceded in death by her daughter, Brenda Western in 1994; a daughter-in-law, Michele Mitchell in 2006; brothers, Jesse Melvin in infancy, Noah P. “Doc”, Nova Howard, Aurville Berdean, George Lee, William J.; sister, Genevieve Butler; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Richardson, Maxine Richardson, Willia Richardson, and Mabel Richardson; brothers-in-law, Edward Cowell and Doris Butler.

LaVena will be cremated and no service will be held. Private burial will be held at a later date in the Greentop Cemetery.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested to the Greentop Cemetery and can be sent to the funeral home.