Obituary

Manuel Tafoya Mitchell, 77, of Plainview passed away Friday, May 4, 2012, at home surrounded by his family. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2012, at Genesis Baptist Church with Pastor Carlos Hinojos officiating. Interment will follow the service at Plainview Cemetery. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Family visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. today, May 6, 2012, at the funeral home chapel with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Manuel was born April 24, 1935, in Mosquero, N.M., to Marcelino Mitchell and Manuela (Tafoya) Mitchell. He moved to Plainview in 1950. He married Manuela (Millie) Baca in Clovis, N.M., on March 13, 1957. They were married for 55 years. They raised eight children; one was a grandson, Jacob, whom they adopted. Manuel was a foreman for a construction company, and he accomplished a lot in his lifetime. He helped build the Excel Packing Plant and also the one in Friona; the jailhouse; the shopping center at Yonkers and 24th Street; another one in Kuna, Idaho; and the American Packing Plant in Dumas, Texas. He also helped build the highway between Plainview and Dimmitt; also from Plainview to Hale Center; the dam west of town; and Farm to Market Road 400 from Plainview for 20 miles. His formal education was limited, but he was a very intelligent man. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Manuel is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Millie Mitchell, of the home; children David Cerda and his wife, Minnie, of Keller, Texas, Richard Cerda of Hereford, Texas, Ruben Mitchell of Fritch, Texas, Danny Mitchell of Burnet, Texas, Robert Mitchell and his wife, Anna, of Denton, Texas, and Jacob Mitchell, Kathy Mitchell and Carolyn (Nina) Mitchell, all of Plainview; six sisters: Ramona Escalante of Plainview, Erma Hernandez of Hereford, Texas, Carmen Vera of Plainview, Pascuala Martinez and her husband, Cruz, and Margarita Eggart, all of Espanola, N.M., and Vicky Sandoval and her husband, Gilbert, of Albuquerque, N.M.; six brothers, Lucario Mitchell of Lubbock, Texas, Benito Mitchell and his wife, Ruth, of Bertram, Texas, Hilario Mitchell and his wife, Sheila, of Bakersfield, Calif., Eloy Mitchell and his wife, Juanita, of Tucumcari, N.M., Samuel Mitchell of Mosquero, N.M., and Ernest Mitchell, of Espanola, N.M.; 22 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Gavino Mitchell; and one grandson, Richard Lee Cerda. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Manuel's name to Area Community Hospice, 3109 Olton Rd., Suite C, Plainview, TX 79072. Online condolences may be made at www.lemonsfunerals.com.