Howard Thomas (Mitch) Mitchell, Jr.

Howard Thomas Mitchell, Jr. 84, of Dawsonville, GA. passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 after battling lung cancer for some time. Born in Alabama in 1940 to Bess and Howard Mitchell, “Mitch” as he was known to his friends and “Tommy” to his family, spent his younger years on his grandparent’s farm near Birmingham, Alabama. As a spunky 16 year old looking for adventure, he joined the Navy and was assigned to a flight crew on a PBM. The experience, of which he loved. After his Navy years he went home to Alabama and started his career in the hotel industry, rising to the position of controller with Albert Pick Hotels in Chicago, Illinois. After leaving the hotel business, Mitch became the controller of Arlington Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and later the owner of the historic Stock Yard Inn and the concessions at the International Amphitheater in Chicago, Illinois. He would go on to own numerous restaurants and night clubs in Florida and Alabama before retiring to Georgia, where he spent his time with family and friends enjoying life and sharpening his golf game. Mitch was an avid University of Alabama football fan. ROLL TIDE! The love of farming and ranching never left him throughout his life and he spent many hours teaching the children and grandchildren how to drive a tractor, ride a horse, string barbwire and any other “cowboying” he could drag them into. As the nephews used to say “He was the rootinest, tootinest, meanest, roughest, toughest hombre this side of the Rio Grand”! He had a huge impact on everyone who knew him.

Mitch is preceded in death by his parents, Bess and Tom Beasley; brother, David Mitchell and his sister in law, Gwen Mitchell. He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 37 years, Elizabeth (Toodie) Mitchell; children, Jessica (David) Clark, Cheryl Foss, Bradley (Kristen) Mitchell and George Mitchell; brother and sister in law, Kenneth (Libby) Mitchell; sister and brother in law, Barbara (Freddy) Colley; grandchildren, Amanda (Daniel) Higareda, Katherine (Matthew) Strack, Amber Revier, Donald (Stella) Foss, Trenton (Astraea) Mitchell, Logan (Marissa) Mitchell, Shannon (Ryan) Herron, Nikki Mitchell, Connor Mitchell, Kylie Clark, Kaiden Clark and Bennett Fowler; ten great grandchildren; two special nephews, Derek and Daren DeCavitte; “honorary daughter and son in law, Lori and Aaron Fowler along with numerous other nieces, nephews, extended family and great friends who will all miss him so much.

A special thanks to Dr Kenneth Bull, his amazing staff at Ochsner 65 Plus and the nurses from Gentiva Hospice, LeAnne and Renee, for all the help and support in our hour of need. You all went above and beyond for Mitch.

The family will receive friends at Ingram Funeral Home Sunday, November 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the NAS Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum in his name. (He loved that place) https://navalaviatiomuseum.org