Mitchell Warren Woods Jr.

1927 - 2018

Mitchell Warren Woods Jr.

Millcreek, UT - On Tuesday, December 18th, 2018, Mitchell Warren Woods Jr. passed away peacefully from complications due to age in his daughter's home in Millcreek, UT. He was 91 years old. Mitchell (or MW as he was known to family and friends) was born on August 17th, 1927 in Savannah, Georgia to Mitchell Warren Woods Sr. and Annie Laura Hagan. Mitchell served honorably in the U.S. Navy in WWII, then as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Southern States Mission and then joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He married Joan Beasley on February 12, 1949 and they were lifelong sweethearts until Joan's passing in 2015. Mitchell and Joan moved from Savannah, Georgia to Tempe, Arizona in 1953 where Mitchell was newly employed by Mountain Telephone and Telegraph Company in Phoenix. It was a difficult move for everyone involved as they were leaving family and lifelong friends in order to seek new opportunities out West.

In 1958, with a wife and 6 children at home, Mitchell graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. While getting his degree, he worked full-time during the day, then enjoyed riding his trusty Vespa scooter to attend school at ASU in the evening, went to the college library to finish his homework and returned home at midnight to start all over again the next morning. His effort to get an education was a blessing for his family and in June 1968, Mitchell was transferred to the Denver, CO headquarters of the phone company and the Woods family resided in Lakewood, Colorado for the next 45 years. In March 2012 Joan and Mitchell made the decision to move back to Arizona to be closer to family.

Mitchell lived a life of service not only to his family but to his Church and his Community. He enjoyed serving as a Scout Master, a former President of Mountain Bell Pioneers and fulfilled many church assignments including Stake Missionary and serving with Joan in the Denver LDS Temple. Besides family activities, his lifelong passions were having a stellar vegetable garden each summer, family history work and amateur photography.

Mitchell was preceded in death by his wife Joan Beasley Woods and son Blake Richard Woods. He is survived by his 7 children: Stephanie (Bob) Wright, Mitchell (Lynn) Woods III, Susan (Ted) Williams, Mary (Paul) Young, Cece (Bruce) Anderson, Shelley (Kevin) Johnson, Jon (Kerrie) Woods, 29 Grandchildren and 76 Great Grandchildren with 2 more on the way.

Services honoring Mitchell's life will be held Saturday, December 29th, 2018 at 10:00am at the LDS Chapel at 1054 W. 2nd PL., Mesa, AZ 85201. A viewing will be held an hour prior at 9am in the Relief Society Room. Mitchell's family would like to thank Wing Mortuary, Lehi, UT and Angels Crematorium and Burial, Mesa, AZ for handling the local arrangements. For information visit: www.angelscremationandburial.com