Obituary of Maxine Donetta Mitchell

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend Maxine Donetta Pack Mitchell, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2023 after a year-long battle with kidney cancer. Maxine was born in Prairie City, OR on May 17, 1955 as the youngest of seven children to Roland and Agnes Pack. Her childhood was full of playing with her siblings, running around barefoot, swimming, and learning and growing her musical talents. Maxine exceled in her musical abilities to the point that she was invited several times to join the All State Band playing alto clarinet. She was especially talented on the piano which she played regularly in church from the time she was a teenager. Maxine’s life truly changed at the age of 16 when she met a handsome, tanned youth with the whitest teeth she had ever seen. Both she and Brent Mitchell’s families were spending a week in Provo, UT attending a family history conference. After their initial meeting, neither one attended the classes. From that fateful day forward, they were attached at the hip. Despite the fact that Maxine’s family lived in John Day, OR and Brent’s family lived in Othello, WA, they spent as much time together as possible between weekend trips and quarter-paid telephone calls. Upon graduating from high school, Maxine went straight to work to raise money to fulfil her life’s ambition: spend the rest of her life side-by-side with Brent Mitchell. The two married for time and all eternity in the Logan Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 11, 1974. The two started their married life in Othello, WA where they welcomed Steven to the family. The next six years were spent between Mattawa and Prosser where she and Brent worked for various farmers to provide for their little family. During this time they also experienced heartbreak after heartbreak with the deaths of their following three children. In 1981 Maxine’s family “temporarily” moved back to Othello. Two years later Maxine was overjoyed to welcome a healthy girl, Melissa, into their home. The next six years brought Arther, Stacy, and Brandon. Their family was complete… at least until she found the immense joy of adding in-laws and grandchildren! Maxine was well known for her loving compassionate service and good sense of humor. Her service included many decades playing the piano for primary children and organ for other church functions as well as being a beloved teacher amongst the nursery, primary, and youth. She also found great joy and fulfillment in her calling as a Relief Society president where she gladly served with the women of her ward and community. She could always be found giving a hug to the anxious or talking to new friends. In fact, she was rarely ever seen not talking! One of her many gifts was the ability to talk away migraines and soothe troubled hearts. Her greatest joy in life was being of service to others, especially to the Lord, her sweetheart, her children, and grandchildren. Maxine is now enjoying a sweet reunion with her Savior; her children Malcolm, Melinda, and Robert; as well as her siblings Greg, Terrell, Kathleen; and parents Roland and Agnes. She is survived by her sweetheart Brent; children Steven (Jennifer) Mitchell, Melissa (Larin) Dodgen, Arther Mitchell, Stacy Mitchell, and Brandon (Melissa) Mitchell; siblings Fred, Danny, and Jessie; 22 grandchildren; and countless friends and loved ones. A public viewing will be held at Stevens Funeral Chapel on Monday, February 6th from 5-7pm. A viewing will take place at the Latter-day Saint Stake Center in Othello on Tuesday the 7th at 9am with a celebration of life following at 10am and interment at the Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens.