Johnnie Mitchell

Johnnie Mitchell, 81, El Dorado Springs, passed away Oct. 12, 2010, at Community Springs Nursing Home in El Dorado Springs. He was born March 23, 1929, to Leve and Lula (Barger) Mitchell in Preston.

The family moved to Caplinger Mills when he was six years old. He attended school at Caplinger Mills. Johnnie was saved and baptized at the Caplinger Mills Baptist Church at the age of 17.

Johnnie married the Love of his Life, Verda Mae Keith, on July 3, 1954, at the home of Reverend Ralph Marcum. They were blessed with many friends and extended family.

Johnnie’s love for music was the greatest thing in his life, besides his wife. His parents gave him his first guitar when he was nine years old. He taught himself to play the dobro, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and harmonica. Johnnie wrote many beautiful hymns and won several fiddle contests. Verda and Johnnie loved Blue Grass music and they attended lots of festivals together.
He had many friends he played music with.

When Johnnie was a teenager he went to work at the mill in Caplinger Mills. He worked in Kansas City at a machine shop for a while and then moved back to Caplinger Mills. He then went to work at the International Shoe Factory where he met Verda in August of 1953. He owned and operated Mitchell Radio and TV in downtown El Dorado Springs for several years. He worked at Witt Engineering for a few years and then returned to the International Shoe Factory, where he retired after 17 years.

Johnnie loved to fish and hunt and he loved his dog, Spot. He also loved to treasure hunt with his metal detector. He read and studied the Bible and never lost his faith in the Lord.

Preceding Johnnie in death were his parents and sister, Ethel Solovey.

Johnnie is survived by his loving wife, Verda Mae, of the home; his brother, Fred, and wife, of Caplinger Mills; a sister-in-law, Edna Lutes; a niece, Nadine Wasden; a nephew, Clayton Lutes, and wife, Diana - all of Las Vegas, NV; nephews, Dennis Keith, and wife, Carolyn - El Dorado Springs; Fred Keith - New Florence; Kenneth Keith - Columbia; Darrel Keith and Larry Keith - Kansas City; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Other survivors include his special friends and cousin, John and Sharon Barger, and their sons, Joe, Michael and David, and their families; and his special neighbor, Bea Farmer.
Services were held at Bland-Hackleman Chapel on Saturday, Oct. 16, with Rev. Brent Bland officiating. Jana Farrington provided music. Interment followed in Love Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were: Mike Barger, David Barger, Joe Barger, Dennis Keith, Kenneth Keith and Justin Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were: Frank DeShazo, Kelly Jones, Larry Lutes, Clayton Lutes and Jack Killingsworth.