MITCHELL, Laura Marie

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, June 15, 2011 Laura Marie McMannis Mitchell went home to her Lord on May 22 in Prescott Valley, Ariz. She was 89 years old. Laura was born in Shattuck, Okla., on July 8, 1921, the daughter of William A. McMannis and Hazel Irene (Laughlin) McMannis. She graduated from Gage High School in 1939 and married Howard Ellis Mitchell, also from Gage, on July 23, 1941. Howard was wounded in World War II, and after he was discharged they moved with their three daughters to Prescott, Ariz., in 1945. Howard was ultimately given 100 percent disability, and Laura returned to college in Oklahoma and finished her teaching degree. In 1960 she was hired by Prescott Unified School District and taught third grade at Washington School. They later moved to California and then back to Gage, Okla., where their mothers both resided. Laura taught school in Gage. Laura and Howard moved to Prescott Valley, Ariz., in 1994, and then to Prescott when Howard’s health began to fail. Howard passed away in 1999 after 57 years of marriage. For several years, Howard and Laura wintered in Wickenburg and, after Howard’s death, Laura moved to Wickenburg for a few years. Laura was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Bill. She is survived by her sister Jane Fielder of Greeley, Colo., her daughters Marilyn Walker and Beverly Harry, both of Prescott Valley, and Linda Koch of San Marcos, Calif.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Mingus View Presbyterian Church in Prescott Valley at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 23.