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Frances Mitchell passed away on August 25, 2013 at her apartment in Country Meadows Estates in Woodburn, at age 94. She was born in Marlinton, West Virginia where she lived until she completed high school. She entered nursing school at Elkons, West Virginia, but soon returned to Marlinton where she worked for a short time before she entered New River State College (later renamed West Virginia Institute of Technology) at Montgomery West Virginia where she obtained her secretarial science certificate after two years and pursued her degree for two years more. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree Cum Laude in 1941. She worked a short time in Knoxville, Tennessee as an Engineering Aide for the Tennessee Valley Authority and then returned to Charleston, West Virginia where she worked for the State Department of Education and for UCC as a medical secretary. Two years later, she moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where she was hired as the Executive Secretary to the Marketing Director of Amfac and ultimately became the secretary to one of the Vice Presidents of that company. She met James T. (Ted) Mitchell while they both worked for Amfac and they were married in Honolulu on October 22, 1977. She left Amfac in December of 1977 to be at home and enjoy her husband.Frances and Ted loved to travel and took many wonderful trips during their marriage. They travelled to New Zealand in 1978, toured Europe in 1979 and to New Guinea for the South Pacific Festival of Arts in 1980. In 1981 they travelled to Australia and in 1982 to China and Inner Mongolia.In August of 1982 they moved to the Woodburn Senior Estates where they lived and continued their travels over most of Oregon, Washington. They also traveled to Alaska and made two trips across the United States prior to Ted's death on July 25, 1999. Frances continued to live in the estates and ultimately moved to Country Meadows Estates in Woodburn.Frances was a member of the Woodburn United Methodist Church where she attended and served for many years.She is survived by many friends and those who loved her including, but not limited to, Johanna Sampson, Carrie Banyard and Christine Barnes, all of whom considered her as their second mother. Johanna and Carrie attended her continuously in her last days, and Christine drove from Montana to be with her near the end. She is also survived by a stepson, James T. Mitchell of Hillsboro, Oregon.A memorial service will be held at the Woodburn United Methodist church at 1:30pm, on Wednesday, August 28, 2013. Arrangements by Simon-Cornwell Colonial Chapel- Woodburn.

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Frances Pauline Mitchell (Purkey)

January 21, 1919 - August 25, 2013