Alva Joy Mitchell

Funeral Service at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel, Walters, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary Tahmahkera officiating. Viewing on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Memorial Donations can be made to the Walters Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 485, Walters, OK 73572.

Alva Joy (Downs) Mitchell was born to Alva David and Francis Louise (Smith) Downs on July 6, 1934 at Erick, OK and departed this life in Lawton, OK on July 3, 2017 at the age of 82 years, 11 months and 27 days.

Joy grew up at Quanah, TX where she graduated from high school. She met the love of her life, J P Mitchell, and they married on April 5, 1953 at Crowell, TX and soon made their home in Oklahoma City. The couple settled in Walters around 1958 after the birth of their first 2 children, Jay Anthony and Karen Denise, then in 1959 Gary Don was born. Joy worked at Ft. Sill for a time and then at the Walters Tag Agency before beginning a 35-year career with Cotton Electric Cooperative. She served as the executive secretary for 5 managers during that time, retiring in 1998.

Joy enjoyed going on trips with J P and they also loved seeing the countryside with Max Parrish in his plane. She enjoyed all sorts of gaming, including horse and dog racing. She was a people person and loved visiting with family and talking on the phone.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, J P in 2004; and her sister, Anna Ruth Whitley.

Survivors include 3 children and spouses, Jay Anthony Mitchell and Cheryle of Norman, Karen Denise McCoy and Jim of Lawton, Gary Don Mitchell and Sukie Monoessy of Walters; a brother and sister-in-law, Joel David Downs and Joanne of Hurst, TX; a brother-in-law, Roy “Ace” Whitley of Crowell, TX; 3 sisters-in-law, Joyce Wallings of Duncan, Rita Belcher of Dallas, and Leanna Marshall and husband Harvey of Hobart, OK; 4 grandchildren, Jana Dawn Fink and Nathan of Marble Falls, TX, Austin James McCoy, Cassandra Jo Patterson and Katrina Gail Mitchell all of Lawton; 2 great grandchildren, Marley Colbert and Jocilynn Magana; many other relatives and friends.