Anthony George Mitchell Obituary
Anthony (Tony) George Mitchell, 76, of Arroyo Grande, California, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 19th, 2022.
Tony was born on November 16, 1945 (as he would say "the day the war ended") to Bettie Joe (Duty) and AB Wright in Hobart, OK. Following his father's death in Jan 1951, Bettie married Charles Elbert Mitchell in November 1952. Charles adopted Tony and his brother, Joe in 1953. He graduated from Cordell High School in 1964 where he excelled in football and basketball. He went on to study at Southwestern State College (now SWOSU) in 1968. He graduated with a triple major in physics, chemistry, and biology. He went on to attend Graduate School at Purdue University. With a war raging in Vietnam, he left Purdue after a semester and entered the Officers Naval Academy in Newport, RI. After graduation, his first command of duty was Oahu, Hawaii in 1969. He returned to the mainland in 1972 and spent the next 15 years working at the Pentagon. Never one to give up, Tony survived cancer twice. His passion for history led him to study law at American University while still working at the Pentagon. With a desire to be closer to his children, he moved back to Hobart, Ok in 1986 and began his career as a criminal defense attorney at Talley & Talley Law Firm of Hobart, Ok until his retirement in 2017. His longtime friendship with Tom Talley and the entire judicial community had a tremendous effect on him. He had a great deal of respect and admiration for them and called them friends.
He married Billie Allen in 1964. They had a daughter, Teri Dawn. He married Janet Carter in 1965 and they had two children, Myki Jan and Monte Jai.
Tony had a true passion for music and coaching basketball. From the Rolling Stones to bluegrass and jazz, he was a music enthusiast that lifted an eyebrow each time one of his favorites was heard within earshot. On any given day, you could catch him dancing and singing as soon as the music started. He spent years while in Hobart coaching boys AAU Basketball. He absolutely loved coaching and seeing the kids in and around the local community thrive and excel at the game of basketball. He united many kids from Western Oklahoma into a team of talented and dedicated athletes that competed all over Oklahoma and surrounding states in various tournaments. He cared for every one of his players. He considered all of his players and their families as one of his own, like Dominic Johnson, as well as Dominic's sister, Leandra, and their Grandma Ruth Lee. He spent many hours on the court, developing their athletic ability, but more importantly, off the court investing his time and energy into the men they would become. Known simply as "T Money" to his players for his antics on the court after they scored a bucket, his excitement for the game was infectious.
When he got the chance to relax, you'd find him fishing in New Mexico at the Greb family cabin. He loved spending his summers with his cousins, the Red River Boys ~ The Grebs, The Osmonds, Lee "Tuffy" Smith, and Larry Parish along with his son, Monte, and grandsons, Bobby and Sam. Some of his most favorite memories were at Red River. He also loved watching western movies, old ones and current ones.
Tony was predeceased by his dad, AB Wright, his mother, Bettie Joe Wright Mitchell, his dad, Charles E. Mitchell and his brother, Harvey Joe Mitchell. He is survived by his children, daughter Teri Dawn and son-in-law JC Lowe, of Pensacola Beach, FL, daughter Myki Jan and son-in-law Tom Keffury of Arroyo Grande, CA , son Monte Jai Mitchell of Oceano, CA; grandchildren, Breonna and Samuel Dalton Lowe, Maggi Jo and husband Noah Sharp, Bobby and Jayci Keffury, and Kylan Jai Simpson; great grandchildren Joshua, Jordyn and Jake Sharp; sister, Mary Paul Mitchell of Reedley, CA, niece Audra Lee Jones and nephew, Charles Anthony Mitchell; great niece, Moxie Murdock-Mitchell and great nephew, Ashton Charles Morales. He also leaves behind longtime companions and friends, Lynne Snider, Charles Rainbolt and Carolyn Caudill.
He was loved by so many…he gave us so much. We will miss him! Funeral services for Anthony (Tony) George Wright Mitchell will be held on Saturday, May 14th at 2pm at the United Methodist Church of Hobart. A graveside service will follow at the Gotebo Cemetery. Services can be viewed on United Methodist Church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com.
