Joe Wayne Mitchell, 78, of McAlester, passed away Friday, July 18, at his home, with his family at his side.  His family will welcome friends for visitation on Sunday, July 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in McAlester.  Funeral services will be h eld on Monday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel.  Burial will follow at Chambers Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Mykee Howell, Jeremy Artman, Clint Armstrong, Jerel Hoffman, Brayden Hoffman, and Paul Cooper.  Honorary pallbearers are Trent Myers, Jerry McNully, Charlie Munholland, Greg Armstrong, Bill Gates, and the coffee shop gang.

Joe Mitchell was born on Sept. 11, 1946 in McAlester to J. D. and Oleta (Barnett) Mitchell.  He grew up here and graduated from McAlester High School.  He attended Eastern State College, then the University of Oklahoma, where he received his nursing home administrator certification.  He and Niva Vanciel were married in 1967 at the Savanna Baptist Church.  Together they managed their businesses, Mitchell Water Well Drilling and Mitchell Manor Nursing Home for many years.  Joe also had a passion for cutting horses, and hosted cutting horse exhibitions at his home for many years.  He also enjoyed trail riding, hunting, and fishing.  One of his favorite daily activities was going to the coffee shop for coffee and conversation with his buddies.  Joe had also served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for several years.

Joe is survived by his wife, Niva Mitchell; his children, Jamie Mitchell and Kris Mitchell; granddaughter, Brooklyn Mitchell; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Kerns, Bonnie Vanciel, and Kathy Vanciel; a brother-in-law, Leroy Vanciel; cousins, Betty Wingo and Louise Hoffman and her husband DeWayne, and their children, DeWayne David and Jerrel; and nieces and nephews, Jay Vanciel, Nancy Vanciel, Rebecca and Jimmy Deaton, Jeff and Crystal Vanciel, Charlene Robertson, Doreen and Keith Baxter, Angie Wilson, Kelley Vanciel, Jerry Don Vanciel, Jr., Savanna Vanciel, Lee Vanciel, Alex Vanciel, Amber and Chris Wilds, and Thomas Porter.  He was preceded in death by his parents, J. D. and Oleta Mitchell; a son, Joe Dyer "Jodie" Mitchell; a grandson, Baby Mitchell; a brother, David Mitchell; brothers-in-law, Jessie and Jerry Don Vanciel, and Dwight Kerns; and sisters-in-law, Carolann Vanciel and Shelly Vanciel.