Obituaries

Herman Eugene "Gene" Mitchell passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2015, from complications following back surgery. Gene was 88 years old and living at Traditions Assisted Living Facility in Sherman, Texas. He was born at home in Southmayd, Texas, on December 15, 1926, during a blinding snow storm. The doctor who delivered Gene could not get into his office to file the birth certificate until 3 days later. Instead of recording the date Gene was born the doctor recorded the date he filled out the certificate. So Gene's birth certificate incorrectly reads December 18, 1926 as his birth date. That was just one of the many stories Gene liked to share with people. Eugene, as his family called him, enjoyed spending time with his cousins at the home of his Granny and Pap Shadden. He would help around the farm with chores and spend any free time fishing and hunting. He was a hard worker even as a young boy, picking cotton at the age of 12 and loading hay at 14. Gene dropped out of high school his junior year to enlist in the Navy. On December 13, 1944, he joined the Naval Construction Battalion know as the Seabees. Their motto is "We build, we fight". Because of the emphasis on experience and skill, the average age of Seabees during the early days of WWII was 37. Gene celebrated his 18th birthday on a ship in the Pacific Ocean heading to Okinawa, Japan. He enjoyed the time he spent in the service as a Seabee because he enjoyed hard work and new experiences. Gene was honorably discharged on June 28, 1946, having achieved the rank of Coxswain (CB). Following his discharge Gene moved to California where he worked for Haliburton Oil as a "roughnecker". Everywhere Gene went his charm and sense of humor won him many friends. When he returned to Grayson County, Gene worked as a finish carpenter and cabinet maker before becoming a home builder. In the 1980's he got out of the home building business and entered his final career when he built his laundromat and drycleaners on South Travis in Sherman. Gene's Laundry was his life for over 30 years. He finally retired at the age of 82 to pursue his passion for fishing with his grandsons. Gene was a member of the Home Builders Association of Grayson County as well as a 32nd degree Master Mason and member of the Travis Street Masonic Lodge No. 117 in Sherman. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie Foster Mitchell and their oldest daughter, GeniLynn Mitchell; parents Sam and Vallie Mitchell, brother Harold Dean Mitchell and sister Martha Lynn Bruton. Gene is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Wendy and Cruz Acosta and grandsons Adrien and Devin Acosta of Sherman. Serving as pallbearers are: Cruz Acosta, Adrien Acosta, Devin Acosta, Jesse Acosta, Ivan Acosta and Edgar Acosta. Service arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman. Visitation will be held from 6-8pm Friday, February 20, 2015. Funeral services will be held at Dannel Funeral Home Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 10:30am. Interment will follow immediately afterward in Cedarlawn Memorial Park in Sherman, Texas. Donations may be made to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, at 2222 Welborn St. in Dallas, TX (75219).