THOMAS MITCHELL
01/31/1927 - 08/19/2022
Thomas J. Mitchell Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully
Friday, August 19, 2022, In Houston Texas. He was born on Galveston Island January 1, 1927.
Tommy Mitchell began life in Galveston, the only child of Thomas J. Mitchell Sr. and Clara Scheel Mitchell. His parents ran a neighborhood grocery store until his father developed tuberculosis and passed away. His mother Clara closed the store and moved to Ellinger, Texas in 1930, where her family resided. There Tommy grew up and attended school from age 3 to 13 surrounded by the love and support of his mother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
At age 13, he moved to Columbus with his mother to begin high school. She somehow found the money to buy him a used trumpet with which he developed his natural talent for music. Thus began a lifelong lover affair with all forms of music, in particular jazz and swing. He played in numerous bands from age 13 to 95.
After his freshman year of High School in Columbus, he moved to Huntsville, his father’s hometown, to complete his high school education while living with his grandmother, Nancy Allen Mitchell. On the first day of school he met David Adickes. They became and remained best friends for 80 years.
Tommy had a happy childhood, surrounded by strong, confident and loving women who believed in the value of education. His mother, grandmother, and aunt showered him with unconditional love and helped him develop an unshakable confidence that he was meant to accomplish great things.
In 1945, at age 18, he enlisted in the Marines, to serve his country during WW2. After the war ended, he obtained a Bachelors degree from Sam Houston State Teachers College. In 1948 he enrolled in the University of Texas Law School in Austin using his three years of GI
Bill benefits. He graduated in 1951 with honors having served as an editor on the Texas Law Review.
He moved to Houston following graduation and began his remarkable legal career. His intelligence, good looks and Andy Griffith charm ensured a long and successful career as a trial lawyer, initially with the firm of Combs and Mitchell and ending with his own firm, Mitchell and Doran.
In 1952 he met the love of his life, Dorothy Pribilski. They married on May 30, 1953, and shared 68 years of divine true love, raising a family of three extremely lucky children, Tom, Nancy and Mark. Tom and Dorothy lived to see all of their children achieve success and marry their soul mates. They were also blessed with grandchildren and enjoyed watching Caroline, Emily and James grow up and become happy and successful adults, with Caroline and Emily marrying their own true loves.
It is not possible to name a better husband, father, grandfather or friend than Thomas J Mitchell Jr. He loved everyone with an open and generous heart and was deeply loved in return. He understood that love’s magic is that the more love you give, the more love you receive. He was passionately devoted to his career as an attorney, helping countless clients and their families achieve financial help and justice in an unjust world. He was equally devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren, friends and his music. He enjoyed tennis and stayed fit by playing regularly at home and at the Houston Racquet Club where he served on the board of directors. He also loved returning to the island of his birth, walking the beaches of Galveston while on vacation with his family.
His sudden and unexpected passing leaves a heartfelt void that is beyond the ability of words to express. Yet his love endures for everyone blessed to know and love him. He was the sweetest and most affectionate man ever born and people joyfully remember his “bear hugs”.
He is survived by his three children, Thomas J Mitchell III, and his wife Kathy of Austin, Nancy M. Barnett and her husband Barry of Dallas, and Mark A. Mitchell and his wife Margarita of Houston. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Caroline Barnett Reeve and husband Nate of Houston, Emily Mitchell Bertram and husband Tim of Austin and James E. Barnett of Dallas.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Houston Racquet Club with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his memory to St. Francis Episcopal Church, Alzheimer’s Association, MD Anderson or the charity of your choice.