Stanley Ross Mitchell was born on June 8, 1956, in Abilene, TX, to Loy and Donna Mitchell. In 1958, the family moved to Nhowe Mission in Zimbabwe, Africa, to work as missionaries. In 1965, they moved to Mutare, Zimbabwe, where Stan completed his primary and secondary education. At the beginning of 1975, Stan moved back to Abilene, TX to attend Abilene Christian University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and a Master of Arts degree in New Testament Studies.
He returned to Zimbabwe in June of 1981 to do mission work. While there he met and married Marjorie McCarthy of Harare, Zimbabwe. In 1987 they moved to California, where Stan preached for several churches of Christ in the Los Angeles area. In 1990, Tracy was born in Canoga Park, CA. He preached in California for the next seven years. During this time, Stan completed a Master of Divinity degree at Pepperdine University and began work toward a Doctorate degree at Fuller Theological Seminary.
In 1997, the family moved to Borger, TX, where Stan preached until 2005, when the family moved to Henderson, TN. While in Tennessee, Stan taught Bible at Freed-Hardeman University and preached at congregations in Finger and Red Walnut, and also completed his Doctoral studies through Regent University. Stan loved his work at FHU, endeavoring to influence the next generation of Christians and preachers.
Stan passed away on February 19, 2019, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, TN, due to complications from a heart attack. He is preceded in death by his parents, Loy and Donna Mitchell. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Mitchell of Henderson, TN, one daughter, Tracy Watts, and husband Chris, of Bartlesville, OK, two grandchildren, Gideon and Gwen Watts, two sisters, Nancy Wheat and husband, Bobby, of Waco, TX, and Marcia Redd and husband, Lee, of Bethlehem, GA, and one brother, William Mitchell and wife, Karen, of Irving, OK, along with eleven nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mutare (Zimbabwe) School of Preaching / Mitchell Scholarship Fund (c/o Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 East Ambler Ave, Abilene, TX 79601) or to the Freed-Hardeman University Bible Scholarship Fund.
Services are incomplete with Shackelford Funeral Directors of Henderson.
