Duane Cornelsen Mitchell, 92 years old, passed from this world to his heavenly home on Monday, July 3, 2023 from Heritage Community Assisted Living in Guymon, Oklahoma.

Duane was born September 29, 1930, to Herman and Katherine (Cornelsen) Mitchell at their home in Texhoma, Oklahoma.  Duane attended elementary school on the Texas side of Texhoma, where he graduated Salutatorian of his eighth-grade class. He was the last surviving member from the THS Class of 1947. He played basketball and football and was considered an outstanding football lineman.

The summer before his senior year in high school, Duane bought his first John Deere tractor and began farming 1,000 acres of lease-land owned by a family from Kansas City, Missouri. Duane continued his education at Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, Oklahoma for two years.

Duane married his high school girlfriend and prom date, Anita Yvonne Daniel, after her first year of college at Panhandle A&M. They married at First Christian Church in Texhoma on August 7, 1949.

Duane and Yvonne purchased the Fred and Halli Mae Krull Farm east of Texhoma in 1958. The couple was involved in farming and ranching. Duane later formed a partnership, MMB Farms, with his grandson, Brady Mitchell, and their partner, Chris Beattie. Brady still farms that same lease owned by heirs of that same family.

Duane and Yvonne were blessed with four children: Carmen Luane, Tommy Rex, Robert Brennon, and Bret Wayne. Duane was baptized into Christ, along with his daughter, Carmen, at a revival on March 9, 1959, at First Christian. Duane served as a Deacon there for a number of years. He also served on the board of Texhoma Wheat Growers for 14 years, as well as serving on the Texhoma School Board for 15 years. On August 7, 2019, Duane and Yvonne celebrated 70 years of marriage. Yvonne passed away on January 2, 2020.

Duane and Yvonne enjoyed traveling. They visited a number of Western European countries, England, Nova Scotia, the Caribbean Islands, North Africa and as far north as Alaska with Wheat Grower members on agriculture-related tours. They enjoyed staying weeks during the summer at their cabin in Angel Fire with family and friends and watched their grandkids learn to snow ski at Angel Fire and Taos. Later, they owned a condominium in Bella Vista, Arkansas near family friends, Jerry, and Allene Thomason. The couple eventually bought a mobile home in Mesa, Arizona where they spent 19 winters.

Duane loved to play various kinds of games. It was very difficult to ever beat him at one. The family spent each Christmas Eve learning a game taught by Papaw at Duane and Yvonne's. Duane was a devoted father and Papaw who was always present at his children, grands, and greats' activities in school, sports, FFA, and church. He was an avid Texhoma Red Devil and Oklahoma State Cowboy fan. One of Duane and Yvonne's honors was being named in September of 2018 as Parade Marshalls for Texhoma Firsts Days.

Duane is survived by his daughter Carmen (Kenny) Harland of Hulbert, OK and daughter, Ashley (Kenny) Lanman and their children, Kendall and Kellen of Edmond, OK; son, Zach (Ashley) of Tahlequah; Duane's son, Tommy (Cathy) and their sons of Texhoma, OK, Brady (Kristi) Mitchell and their children, Trent and Allie; son, Jamey (Chelsey) Mitchell and their daughters, Emma and Maddie; son, Bob Mitchell of Guymon, OK, and his sons, Bryce Mitchell and children, Jaxon and Calvin Mitchell and Kayden Ruiz of Aubrey, TX; and son, Ben (Kati) Mitchell of Texhoma, OK and children, Mason, Breelyn, and Saylor.

Duane was proceeded in death by his parents, Herman Mitchell and Kate Mitchell Marshall, his wife Yvonne Mitchell, and sisters, Hermione McMillen and Selma Keylon, a son, Bret Wayne Mitchell and a grandson, Kendall Ryan Harland.

The family extends special thanks to friends, the staff of Heritage Community Assisted Living of Guymon for tender care rendered these past three years.

Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, July 7th at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 120 Third Street, Texhoma, OK with Dr. Buddy Young of Canyon, Texas officiating. Services are entrusted to Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home in Guymon.

The family suggests memorials be given to Texhoma School FFA Program, Texhoma's First Christian Church for Christ in Youth Camp Expenses or to the Heritage Community Assisted Living in Guymon.  Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942.  Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.