Loretta Blear Mitchell

Loretta Blear Mitchell, 77, of Gladewater, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Gilmer. Loretta was born September 24, 1943 in Ft. Worth, Texas to the late David and Bertha Blear.

Loretta was a graduate of the Gladewater High School Class of 1962. Loretta had a beautiful voice and loved music and singing in the pews at church. She fondly remembered her years in Ken Bennett's choir and getting to sing on air at the old KSIJ's radio program. She attended Kilgore Junior College and had degrees in Secretarial Science and Mid Management.

Over the years Loretta worked in many different secretarial or bank teller positions at First State Bank of Gladewater, Fort Sill National Bank of Oklahoma, Midway National Bank of Grand Prairie, and First National Bank of Kilgore. She worked most of her life as a Child Support Specialist for the Gregg County District Clerk’s Office and the Smith County District Clerk’s Office. She also worked at Christian Services of East Texas, Pathways Tennessee Healthcare, East Texas Treatment Center and University of Texas Health Center in Tyler.

Loretta was a member of the American Business Women's Association Kilgore Charter Chapter for several years, serving as both secretary and president. She enjoyed traveling and had spent time in England, Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska. She was a longtime member of the Shiloh Road Church of Christ in Tyler. She especially loved her time spent with the Primetimers Group there. But in more recent years, she returned to her roots, the North Loop Church of Christ, in her hometown of Gladewater. She became very active with her 1962 classmate friends and enjoyed many of their events and gatherings. Over the years she learned to paint and cherished her time spent with grandchildren. In her retirement she loved to spend time with her beloved family and friends, and adored her constant companion, her dog “Peaches”. Loretta's sweet personality loving demeanor will not soon be forgotten by all those she leaves behind. The choir in heaven will certainly be a little bit better from now on.

Loretta was married to Bernard Mitchell for 48 years. Loretta is survived by her two sons Kevin Mitchell and wife Jane of Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Michael Mitchell of Liberty City; a brother Jimmy Blear and wife Kathy Jo of Longview; and two sisters Sharon Kendall and husband Doug, and Kathy White and husband David, all of Gladewater; four grandchildren Sarah Mitchell, Sean, Callum, and Gavin Mitchell as well as many other loving family and friends.

She is preceded in death by one brother, David Wayne Blear in 1956 and the father of her children Bernard “Mitch” Mitchell in 2016.

Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2021, at the West Mountain Cemetery in Upshur County with burial following the services.