Earl Leo Mitchell, Jr., 73, of Mt. Crawford, Virginia, passed away on April 27, 2025, at his residence.
Mr. Mitchell was born on Jan. 20, 1952, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and was a son of the late Earl Leo Mitchell Sr., and Ivy Arlene (Dove) Mitchell.
He graduated from Montevideo High School in 1970 and later from Blue Ridge Community College with a degree in machine shop.
He worked in maintenance for 16 years at Kawneer, and later retired after 24 years from Hershey Foods in Stuarts Draft, Virginia.
He was a member of Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
He was a mountain man and loved hunting deer and especially wild turkeys. He also enjoyed being outdoors hiking and cutting firewood. In recent years, he and his wife, Phyllis, began participating in cruise-ins and antique car shows. He proudly drove “Henrietta,” his 1969 Z28 Camaro, to shows all around the local area.
He was also a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and proud supporter of the Second Amendment.
On March 12, 1977 he married the former Phyllis Ann Gray, who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Nathan Mitchell and wife, Amanda of Penn Laird, Virginia, and Rachel Morris and husband, Luke of Mt. Solon, Virginia; brothers, Larry Mitchell and wife, Brenda, Keith Mitchell and wife, Frances, and Dennis Mitchell and girlfriend, Chris Besendorfer; sisters, Wanda Muterspaugh and husband, Troy, and Linda Cline and husband, Gary; brother-in-law, Charles Gray of Mountain Valley, Virginia; a grandson whom he loved and adored, Josiah Morris; special friend, Jerry Hall; and his beloved dog, Miss Lady Bella.
The family received friends on Sunday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Burial will be held privately and at a later date.
The family would like to extended a heartfelt thank you to First Choice Hospice for their love, compassion and support.
The family requests all memorial contributions be made to Anicira by visiting https://anicira.org/donation-selection/.
Condolences may be shared at kygers.com.
