Thomas A. "Tommy/Mitchee" Mitchell

1947 - 2016

Thomas A. Mitchell "Tommy/Mitchee"
1947-2016
Thomas A. Mitchell (Tommy/Mitchee) passed on October 7; losing his battle with cancer at his home in Houston TX, he was 68.
Tommy was born November 27, 1947 in Savannah Georgia to Walter C. & Mary Catherine Mitchell; moving with his family to Great Falls, MT in 1957. While growing up he was a dedicated paperboy and always taking things apart just to put them back together again. Graduating in 1966 from Great Falls Central Catholic High School, he then worked for Great Falls Tribune in the ad service department until being drafted into the Army in 1969. Tommy served as helicopter crew chief for the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles, serving one year tour of duty in Vietnam; attending many of the reunions his company had. He was proud of his time in the service but did not talk about it to most who knew him.
He became a photography buff while on active duty and it remained one of his life's passions. He also loved to bet the ponies, drink beer, eat Subway sandwiches and enjoy a simple life. Favorite quote of one Tommy's friends was "Mitchee was a loner, but not lonely".
After getting his degree at Helena VoTec he worked as an engineer in TV. Tommy's career began as a maintenance engineer at KTVQ in Billings, then moving to KFDA in Amarillo TX. He then moved to Houston at KHOU, where his focus was on news gathering equipment; he retired in 2015. His co-workers in TX would say he became a priceless employee at the stations because of his unique ability to fix/replace/maintain anything needed to run the station.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Walter C. Jr. and Francis J. Mitchell.
Tommy is survived by brothers Pat Mitchell (Lynn), Seeley Lake, MT and Mike Mitchell, Billings, MT. He is also survived by nephews Greg Mitchell (Jenn), Clermont, FL., Joseph Mitchell, Great Falls, MT., and Niece Miranda Mitchell, Wellington, CO. along with numerous grand-nephews and grand-nieces. Tommy also had an extended family of longtime friends and their families in Montana and TX.
Tommy's passion for photography brought him back to Montana almost every summer and those visits would include a trip to Glacier National Park for more pictures.
The family will have a private ceremony next spring as his remains have been brought home to Montana. There will also be a memorial with close friends and co-workers in Houston at a date to be determined next year.
Tommy will be missed by many for his infectious smile and willingness to help fix anything for anyone that needed fixing. He was notorious for not returning phone calls, even after you left tons of messages; he would get back to you but on his time frame. He never complained even in his later stages of cancer; and his trip to Montana made the reunion of Pat, Mike and Tommy in Seeley Lake this summer all the sweeter.
We say with love in our hearts we will miss being called "JACKASS", the phrase reserved only for his close friends and loved ones.
Rest in Peace - Tommy/Mitchee, brother, uncle, friend and Jackass.