John Lee Mitchael, age 92, passed away on May 4, 2025.  He was born on April 18, 1933 to Clarence Alvin and Thelma Pearl Mitchael.  He married Ruth Darlene Gathman on February 1, 1953.   He and Ruth raised three children.

John would describe himself as a "poor hillbilly boy from Beaty, Arkansas who grew up during the depression and was raised by the greatest generation".  He would say that growing up, he received a mediocre education, much of it in a one room school house.   He left Northwest Arkansas after he graduated from Gravette High School to pursue employment opportunities in Wichita, Kansas.   He received a Masters Degree from Wichita State University while working at the Boeing Aircraft Company where he had a 40-year career.   He loved to play basketball, baseball, and softball and became a dedicated Razorback fan.

After retirement, he and Ruth moved back to the Gravette area where he served the community, working on projects of various size and scope.  Some of those include establishing the rural water system west of Gravette, establishing the Gravette Museum, participating in the building committee for the current high school, and serving on the committee for the rural cemeteries.  John was an elder at the First Christian Church of Gravette where he and Ruth attended for more than 30 years.   He served others well and was a mentor to many.

John loved his family deeply and loved spending time with them whenever possible.   He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, three siblings, Carl Dean Mitchael, Carol Jean Mitchael, and Vernon Dale Mitchael, and a granddaughter, Rebecca Lynn Thurman.  He is survived by one brother, Larry Mitchael; his three children and their spouses, Jan and Clayton Thurman of Statesboro, GA; Steve and Jill Mitchael of Gravette, AR; and Jay and Jennifer Mitchael of Gravette, AR.  In addition, he had six grandchildren and spouses; Randy and Janna Thurman, Lauren and Jason Buss, Jake and Betsy Mitchael, Ava Mitchael and Coleman Eldridge, Joshua and Andrea Mitchael, and Jayni and Braden Chaufty.  He also had 12 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren plus one more on the way.  And, countless cousins.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on May 14th at the First Christian Church in Gravette, AR.  The funeral service will be at 2:00 pm on May 15, 2025 at the Church on the Hill in Gravette, Ar.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Lee/Wann Cemetery Foundation (11495 Highway 72 Centerton, AR 72719), or Bright Futures of Gravette (609 Birmingham St SE Gravette, AR 72736).

On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com