Robert Burns Mitchell

Robert Burns Mitchell was born August 7, 1931 in Fairfax, Oklahoma; the son of Alexander and Jeanne (Yule) Mitchell. Robert attended his early education in Fairfax and then moved with his family at the age of nine to property near Boston Pool in rural Osage County. He was raised in this area near Boston Pool, just north of the Arkansas River from Cleveland and then attended Hominy School, graduating from Hominy High School in 1950. Upon graduation from high school, Robert attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater for a couple of years. While attending Oklahoma State, Robert enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard and was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict serving nearly two years in Korea in the United States Army. He was married to Rosa Dykes on September 1, 1953. Upon his release from active duty, Robert returned to Oklahoma and the couple made their home Hominy for nearly twenty-six years before building their home near Boston Pool in December 1979. The couple had four children, Robert Douglas, Laura Patrice, Anthony Yule and Bradley Neal. Robert started a long career in the oil well servicing business upon returning from his military service, accepting a position with A. G. Oliphant in Hominy for a couple of years. He then was employed for the next thirty-two years as an engineering salesman for Dowell Oil Well Serving Company in Hominy. After a short retirement, Robert accepted employment with Oil Well Fracturing in Cushing for a few years, again in the sales department. Robert enjoyed the outdoors; he was an avid deer and squirrel hunter and especially enjoyed bass fishing in local ponds. He was a cattle rancher for nearly fifty-five years always having cattle on their property until 2008 when for health reasons he had to sell off his herd. He also enjoyed vegetable gardening providing fresh vegetables each year for Rosa to can. He was described by his family and a soft-spoken and honest husband, father and grandfather; whose word was his bond in everything that he did. After being blessed with grandchildren, his favorite pastime was spending time with them whenever possible. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Hominy. Robert was extremely proud of his Scottish Heritage as his parents were both immigrants coming to this country through Ellis Island. Robert passed from this life on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at his home at the age of eighty. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Alexander Yule Mitchell. He is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Rosa Mitchell of the home; three sons, Robert Douglas Mitchell of the home, Anthony Yule and his wife, Michelle Mitchell of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Bradley Neal Mitchell of Kansas City, Missouri; a daughter, Laura Patrice Owen of Littleton, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Phillip Owen, Nikki Owen, Raquel Hill, Reed Mitchell, Jazlynn Mitchell, Anna Mitchell and Braylon Mitchell; one great-granddaughter, Taylor Hill; and a sister, Jeanne Morris of Tulsa, Oklahoma. brother, Alexander Yule Mitchell. Funeral services will be held at the Woodland Cemetery Chapel at 11:00 am Thursday, May 24, 2012 at Woodland Cemetery with Rev. Dale Gowdy officiating. Burial will be under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.