The family of Lloyd Anton Mitchell are grieved to announce his sudden passing on June 10, 2007 in Quesnel, British Columbia.
Lloyd is survived by his wife of 56 years, Shirley Abbie (nee: Hanson), daughters Sherry (Terry) Stone, Shelley (Rob Creasser) Mitchell; grandchildren Alicia, Deanna & Chelsea Stone and Benjamin and Mackenzie Creasser; niece, Irene (Alan) White of Smeaton, Sask.; great nieces Debbie and Tammy; nephew Bill (Lisa) Phillips, Boyle, Alta and great nephews Todd and Cory.
Lloyd is predeceased by his parents, William and Elva Mitchell of Smeaton, Sask.; sister Merle Dymond of Prince Albert, Sask.; in-laws Lloyd Lewis, Art McAuley, Oliver Brownmiller and Violet Belyk.
Lloyd was born in Mildred, Sask. in 1931 into the depression and hard times, the youngest of 13 children. He moved to the Smeaton area in 1937 and onto the Mitchell family farm and into the loving family of William, Elva and Merle Mitchell. Lloyd went to Elkhart school until grade 9 and Shirley first remembers meeting Lloyd when he was pitching for the Elkhart school baseball team and Shirley cheering for the Smeaton school team. He worked on the Falloon family farm as a general labourer for two summers when he was about 16 years old and forged a life-long connection with this family. He helped Cliff and Thelma Falloon move to Quesnel in 1948 and although there were many opportunities in the Cariboo, he returned to the Prairies to see his sweetheart, Shirley.
Lloyd and Shirley were married in March 1951 in White Fox, Sask. Their first residence was in Smeaton with Lloyd working for Serle Grain Growers. They moved to White Fox, Sask. about six months later when Lloyd changed employers to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Over the next 14 years Lloyd and Shirley moved at the direction of the company to a number of prairie communities including Crutwell, McDowell, Hagen and then back to White Fox. These small communities brought many new friends, continuous bonspiels and the addition of two daughters. In September 1964 the Mitchell and Kirkham families departed the prairies and pulled into Quesnel and into a new life. The families lived together during the first few months in Quesnel and forged a friendship that embraces the spirit of the term ‘extended family’ and extends five generations.
Lloyd and Lawrence worked for the Heinzelman boys until they got their feet on the ground and again developed friendships with many Cariboo families over the next 40+ years. Lloyd began work for Meridian Motors in the early 1960s in the sales department. He won numerous sales awards and in 1969 Lloyd was recognized with the Summit Award, an award dedicated to the top 50 salesmen within Ford Canada. His years in the sales field created many new friends and there was seldom a time he could travel the province without running into someone he knew.
He sought greater freedom and showed his entrepreneurial spirit after he left Meridian Motors and worked as a land developer, opened a small grocery store and worked at Active Rent-All. There was a short move to Prince George in the 1990’s, but Lloyd and Shirley returned to Quesnel for their retirement.
Lloyd will be best remembered for his constant love and dedication to family and friends, his work ethic, his love of the outdoors, music, song and camping, and his strong connection to the land. He was happiest when he was surrounded by friends and family. Lloyd loved people and he would give you the shirt off his back. Nobody ever went away hungry or thirsty from Lloyd’s table. Breakfast became his claim to fame. Pancakes, “wild boar” (bacon) and “cackleberries” (eggs) were often on the griddle.
The Mitchell family would like to thank friends, neighbours and larger community for their caring support of Lloyd through his prolonged illness with dementia. Sherry and Shelley would especially like to thank Gary, JoAnne and Beth Brownmiller for their constant support of both mom and dad.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #94, 262 Kinchant Street, Quesnel, B.C.