Elene Patricia Mitchell

Elene Patricia Mitchell was born January 21, 1927 in Bowbells, North Dakota, as the youngest child of Ernest and Mollie Martin. Patty grew up surrounded by extended family, including many nieces and nephews older than she was. Her best friend growing up was her niece Gae (Anderson) Dunton, who joined her in putting on plays and musicals in the hay loft of the local livery stable.

After the sudden death of her father in 1935, Patty and her mother moved to Anacortes, WA to be with family. There she attended Anacortes High School (Valedictorian), sang opera on the radio, and managed a florist shop. She attended the University of Washington studying voice, piano and art for 2 years until Paul Mitchell swept her off her feet. They then attended Northwest Nazarene College in Idaho. Paul and Patty lived in Davenport, WA for many years then moved to Anacortes to be closer to her mother. It was there that Marty and Kelly were born. In 1960 they settled in Bellingham, where Tricia  was born and started a lifetime friendship with her neighbor Pauline Anderson.

Patty was always a teacher, passing on her many varied talents to people by giving piano and singing lessons, watercolor painting, sewing and men’s tailoring, ceramics, and even upholstery.

In 1967 Patty was overcome by noxious chemical fumes while installing a shower in the upstairs of the house on Marine Drive. Pauline saved her life by rushing her to the hospital, but it took two years for her to learn to walk and talk again. Through sheer determination she taught herself to read, then took one class at Western as “therapy”. She kept at it one class at a time, then worked up to full time until she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a teaching degree. She then worked in the Mathematics Lab at Western for twenty years until her retirement, teaching education majors how to teach math.

In retirement she travelled the world, visiting every continent except Antarctica. On one of her trips to Ecuador she met Robert Moore, a retired Engineer serving as a Missionary. They married in 1998, and she joked that he was the best souvenir she ever brought home from a trip.

Patty is survived by her children Marty (Cheryl), Kelly (Sarah), Tricia Morell (Tom), grandchildren Kalene Barry (John), Paul and Nichole Morell, Soncirey Mitchell, Jacob (Nicole) York, Jennifer (Jason) Huguenin, Jason (Erin) York and a plethora of wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands Paul Mitchell and Bob Moore, both parents, brothers Royal and Russell Martin, and sisters Effie Wallace, Edna Anderson, Eleanor and Erna Martin.

A celebration of her life will be held Monday, December 2, 2019, 2:00 PM at Northwest Baptist Church, 3545 Northwest Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225 with Pastor Ryan Jensema officiating. Private family graveside service was held at Greenacres Cemetery in Ferndale.

Memorials may be made to Northwest Baptist Church.