MITCHELL, Lylah Donahue

Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, Prescott, Arizona Lylah Mitchell November 29, 1928 ~ October 6, 2014 Visitation: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 12, 2014 at Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home 303 S. Cortez St. Prescott AZ 86303. Service: 11:00 am on Monday, October 13, 2014 at Trinity Presbyterian Church 630 Park Ave Prescott AZ. ~~~~~~~~ The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Friday, October 10, 2014 Lylah Donahue Mitchell, 86, of Prescott, Ariz., born Nov. 29, 1928, in Laveen, Ariz., passed away Oct. 6, 2014. Visitation will be 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, at Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St., Prescott. Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 630 Park Ave., Prescott, followed by burial at the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribal Cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~ The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, October 12, 2014 Lylah Donahue Mitchell, 85, of Prescott, Ariz., completed her life's work on Oct. 6, 2014. She was born Nov. 29, 1928, in Laveen, Ariz., into the Maricopa Tribe of the Gila River Indian Community. She moved to Tucson, Ariz., to attend the Tucson Indian Training School (Escuela), from which she graduated in 1946. The school had an enormous influence on her religious beliefs, establishing a devout Presbyterian faith which she maintained throughout her life. Lylah's compassionate nature led her to lifelong service of caring for others. She worked as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at the Yavapai Community Hospital and Prescott Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1970 until her retirement in 1994. During this time, she was the recipient of the Department of Veterans Affairs Hand and Heart Award, which is given to recognize those who consistently do the most to provide emotional support, help, and guidance to patients, above and beyond the call of duty. She was also recognized for her contribution toward developing and implementing the Alcohol Dependency Treatment Program which remains in existence today. Lylah fought a courageous battle with dementia during her final decade of life. Throughout this time, she maintained a positive attitude and continued to laugh, sharing her keen sense of humor. She continued to lead a very active life, traveling and participating in numerous activities and events particularly those events in the lives of those closest to her. She passed away at her home with her family by her side, a testament of the unconditional love and care that she gave to her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Frank, Jasper and George Donahue, and sisters Beulah Archuletta, Gladys Wilson, Louise Sunn, Helen Smith and Regina Biakeddy. Her sister, Helen Smith, also departed this life on Oct. 6. Lylah is also preceded in death by her children Eric Donahue, Carol Mitchell and Richard (Dick) Mitchell. She is survived by her remaining sister Norma Loring, and children Violet Mitchell-Enos, Donna Mitchell, Lorna Galeano, Rose McMahon and Edward Mitchell, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 12, 2014, at Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St., Prescott. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 13 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 630 Park Ave., Prescott, followed by burial at the Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribal Cemetery. A potluck reception will take place immediately after the burial at the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Gathering Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Margaret T. Morris Center, 878 Sunset Ave., Prescott, or the Alzheimer's Association, c/o Meg Fenzi, 3111 Clearwater Dr., Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86305. You are invited to log onto www.RuffnerWakelin.com to sign Lylah's guestbook and share a memory. Information provided by survivors.