Millard County Progress
24 December 1937
Fillmore's Gold Star Mother Dies

Very beautiful funeral services were held at the Fillmore Ward Chapel, Thursday December 23, at 2 pm for Mrs Bessie Powell Mitchell, wife of Heber J Mitchell.

Mrs Mitchell was born in Fillmore on November 5, 1858, to the late John and Fannie Chamberlain Powell. She died at her home here early Tuesday morning. Although she had been in ill health for about eight months, she was able to be up and to prepare supper for the family the evening before she died. In fact, she even popped corn for her husband and sons as they sat around the fireside after supper.

Bishop Lorenzo Brunson conducted the services and offered the closing remarks. Mayor James A Kelly was the first speaker and told of his great friendship for the Mitchell family, and of the wonderful work of this devoted little wife and mother. Although she had lost eight of their fifteen children, she remained cheerful and companionable to her family.

Mrs Ethel P Baker, paid a most touching tribute to the departed in behalf of the American Legion and the Auxiliary. She told of her first visit there with State officials of the Auxiliary, and how Mrs Mitchell told them of the day when her son Corbett went away to war, after coming back a second time to bid them good bye. She ended her story by saying "it's been twenty years now, but sometimes, it seems only yesterday since I told him goodbye". Mr Mitchell's son Heber J Mitchell Jr, was also in the World War so that she suffered the anxiety of loosing him along with the sorrow caused by the loss of the one. Mrs Baker also paid a tribute to Mr Mitchell, who through the fifty-nine years of their married life, had shared her sorrows and heartaches, along with the happiness that came to them. She referred to Edgar A Guest's poem, "It Takes a Heap of Living in a House to Make it a Home", and her comment was that there had been a heap of living in that home.

Pres T Clark Callister was the third speaker and after referring for a few minutes to the very fine relation he had enjoyed with the Mitchell family in the capacity of neighbor, he dwelt at some length on the spiritual life which was awaiting so fine a character as Mrs Mitchell.

The Singing Mothers sang three beautiful songs, and Miss Marilyn Brunson "Mother McCree". The opening prayer was offered by F A Robison and the benediction was pronounced by Peter L Brunson. The grave was dedicated by Bishop Brunson.

Members of the Fillmore Post of the American Legion carried the colors and marched in a body, and Auxiliary members carried the flowers. Grandsons of the departed acted as pallbearers. The funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Olpin Mortuary.

Mrs Mitchell is survived by her husband and the following sons and daughters: Mrs Jessie Holbrook, Heber J Mitchell Jr., Hyrum S and Guy Mitchell and Mrs Norene Warner, Fillmore; Cleveland and Nolan Mitchell, Delta; the following brothers and sisters, Mrs Sadie Bartholomew, Salt Lake City; Mrs Annie Beckwith, McGill Nev., Mrs Lilly Rogers, Mrs Mae Rasmussen, Fillmore; Alma Powell, Beaver; Jesse Powell, Green River; 21 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Bessie married Heber James Mitchell on 13 Feb 1879 in Salt Lake City Utah.

Bessie is the mother of William, Jessie Pearl (Holbrook), Mary Ann (Turner), Isaac, Rose Eva, Heber James Jr, Hyrum Samuel, Cleveland, Corbett, Bessie, Clara Florence, Guy, Nolan, Sarah and Noreine (Warner) Mitchell.