BARBARA SIMONA MITCHELL

Barbara S. Mitchell 1914 ~ 2011 Barbara Simona Mitchell, 96, passed away on Wednesday, May 25 at the Rosetta House in Twin Falls, Idaho. Barbara, or Bobby as her friends affectionately called her, was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico on September 19, 1914, the first of F.R. and Monica Eschwig's four children. She spent her childhood growing up in small New Mexico communities before moving to Los Angeles her senior year of high school. Soon after that move she met her future husband, Ray Mitchell to whom she was married for 63 years. Three years after their marriage in 1933, Barbara, Ray, and their infant daughter, Barbara sailed to the Philippine Islands where Ray worked for a mining company just prior to the build-up of wartime activities in the Far East. Upon returning to the states Barbara and Ray had three more children---Frances, and twins, Monica and Mack (Raymond McKay). The newspaper business eventually took this young family to their permanent home in Wenatchee, Washington where Ray worked for the Wenatchee Daily World for the rest of his career. Barbara was always fully engaged in the community and in many of her children's school and extra-curricular activities. She served as the leader for their Bluebird, Campfire, Girl Scout, and Cub Scout groups. She also planned many of the PTA annual school carnivals as well as serving on their board. She was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church where she participated in all aspects of church life. The local YMCA programs benefitted from her leadership skills and the entire family regularly enjoyed summer and winter outings at the Lake Wenatchee Y Camp where she shared her endless love of cooking with all the campers. Family meals were prized in the Mitchell household especially when topped off with the wonderful pastries for which she was known as well as for the spirited singing that accompanied the evening KP duty with songs she had taught her children through the years. Part of the family entertainment came from the passion she and her husband shared with their children for the outdoors. Regular camping, fishing, hiking, berry picking, skiing, and exploring trips into the Cascade Mountains and throughout the Pacific Northwest and California were standard fare. Barbara's talent for enriching the lives of her family and friends often came through sheer determination and hard work but always with a sweetness of spirit. She instilled in her children a deep appreciation of music and literature as she introduced them to all that she knew and loved. She was a strong, dear and compassionate lady who had the innate ability to stay focused on appreciating and enjoying the life that unfolded before her. We will cherish her legacy. Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ray, her sisters, Frances Meyer and Connie Byllesby, and two of her sons-in-law, David Frost and Bob Yamamoto. She remains fondly in the memories of her family including her four children, Barbara Frost (Hilo, HI); Fran (Allan) Frost (Twin Falls, ID); Monica Yamamoto (Priest River, ID); Raymond McKay Mitchell (Twin Falls, ID); her care-giving nephew & niece Bill & Joye Meyer (Nampa, ID); her brother Fred (Bonnie) Eschwig (Wenatchee, WA); her grandchildren, Griffith (Noriko) Frost (Hilo, Hawaii); Kristin (Mark) Albrecht (Cannon Beach, OR); Katherine (Jeff) Kamakahi (St. Joseph, MN); Thomas (Maya) Frost (Beijing, China); Marin (Dale) Isaak (Wilsonville, OR); Laura Frost (Stephen) Jackson (Montclair, NJ); Doug (Hillary) Frost (Twin Falls, ID); Monika (John) Gutridge (Reno, NV); Takeshi (Peggy) Yamamoto (LaHabra, CA); Tamotsu Yamamoto (Danville, CA); Toshio Yamamoto (San Diego, CA); nineteen great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their profound appreciation to all the staff at Rosetta Assisted Living House for their warm and loving care of Barbara for the past five years. A celebration of her life and legacy will be held in July when the extended family gathers together in her honor. Arrangements are under the direction of Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home in Twin Falls. Those wishing to share condolences may do so at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.