Gail Katherine (Craig) Mitchell, 77, of Orange, Texas, passed away at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, July 15, 2017.  Graveside service, under the direction of Dorman Funeral Home, will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Evergreen Cemetery; Pastor Ed Rawls of Silver Oaks Baptist Church officiating.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Dorman Funeral Home.

Gail was born on Tuesday, October 3, 1939, in Malvern, Arkansas, to Sadie Lee (Brewer) and Ted Allen Craig.  Her family moved several times between Arkansas and Texas, before finally settling in southeast Texas. For 59 years, Gail was married to her husband, Jimmie Mitchell, and together they raised a beautiful family.

Gail was a proud Christian woman of the Baptist faith, who made sure her children knew the Lord, and was proud to have been baptized at McDonald Baptist Church.  She was a very talented seamstress who not only made sure to make her husband’s favorite shirts, but also enjoyed working with the garments for Lamar University’s Drama Department and Franklins.  When she could, Gail loved to Bass fish and she was never without her motor oil colored worm.  Gail was a very patient and creative woman who was welcoming to all and never met a stranger.  Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great great-granchild were the light of her life.  Gail was always happy to play on the floor with them and help them to create their own imagination.  She was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and friend, who will loved, and missed, by all who knew her.

Proceeding Gail in death are her parents, Ted and Sadie Craig; daughter, Kathy Louise Mendoza; brother, Floyd Allen Craig; sisters, Jeanet Whiley and Iris Allene Yokum; and sister-in-law, Gladys Juanita Rodgers.

Those who will cherish her memory most are her loving husband, Jimmie Mitchell; sons, Henry Luther Mitchell and wife, Cindy, of Orange, Texas, Jesse Lee Mitchell and wife, Christie, of Orange, Texas, and Ted Allen Mitchell of Orange, Texas; daughters, Juanita Lorance Denham of Orange, Texas, and Janice Marie Harris and husband, Doug, of Buna, Texas; brothers, James David “Shine” Craig of Bridge City, Texas, Fred Craig of Dallas, Texas, Bennie Hugh Craig of Orange, Texas; sisters, Janice Archer of Arkansas, Edith Joanne Reese of Orange, Texas, Rebecca Lee Rysemus of Seattle, Washington, and Donna Lynn Irby of Silsbee, Texas; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren, give or take a few, with a few bonus ones; 1 great great-grandchild, Addie; and many members of extended family.

Honoring Gail as Pallbearers are Dallen Mitchell, Brett Mitchell, Wade Jones, Johnathon Denham, Lynn Denham, and Garrett Fonville; Honorary Pallbearers are Tommy Jones, Bradley Gifford, and Cody Richard.

 Service Information