Gail N Mitchell

Gail N. Mitchell, born in Fillmore, Utah on November 12, 1955, to Newel and DeVaun Rasmussen Mitchell. From the moment he was born, Gail was met with challenges. He was allergic to everything, including milk, animals, anything to do with animals, and scents. His mother always said that keeping Gail alive and content was a full-time job.

Gail went to school in Fillmore, graduating Millard High in 1974. He continued his education at Utah Tech in Provo, Utah. Upon graduating, he found a job with Flowell Electric as a lineman, bringing him home to Millard County. It wasn’t long before he connected with Fillmore native, Vickiann Robison. She enjoyed riding and competing with horses just as much as he did and pushing cows on the mountain. They married on October 7, 1976, in Manti, Utah in the Manti LDS Temple.

Gail and Vickiann added Deanne to their family in 1977, Julie in 1984, and Steve in 1988.

While working for Flowell Electric, Gail went to check a newly installed power line after a grass fire and as he did, 7200 volts struck his body, entering the right arm and exiting the right leg. The power was supposed to be turned off, but it wasn’t. He got his first airplane ride that December day in 1979 to Utah University Hospital in Salt Lake City. This was the beginning of many trips to the city and learning to be a lefty. Gail didn’t falter, he continued to do the things he loved, he figured out new ways and mastered each one. Shortly after the accident, Gail went to work at Averett’s John Deere, and years later became the watermaster for Fillmore Water Users Irrigation Company.

Gail was a perfectionist. Whether it was building furniture, sketching a deer on paper, welding panels for his horse corrals, turning wood into beautiful bowls, or sharpening knives, it was done in perfect perfection.

Gail was especially known for his farrier business, paired with blacksmithing and leatherwork. Gail raised Quarter Horses with Vicki as they competed throughout the state winning many trophies being involved with East Millard Riding Club. In conjunction with that, they found they really loved mules. They began breeding mules and started “Mule Days” where they had a place to compete and have fun with their mules. All this time, Gail is flawlessly shoeing horses, creating tack, building saddles, and training those horses and mules. Gail was even featured in Western Horseman magazine for his superior shoeing skills. He built his own horseshoes, forging them into superb shoes for each and every four-legged friend. He also built railings, candle holders, plants, coat hangers and so much more.

Later when Gail’s body wasn’t fond of being on top of a horse, he decided to try breeding and raising sheep. He was deemed the “Sheep Whisperer”. During this time, Gail’s grandkids began arriving. Emeryann was the first and ended up being the only granddaughter, followed by “the boys” Peyton, Brenan, Hayden, Maysen, Everett, and Boone.

Gail never gave up. “I can’t” was never an option. He worked hard and then even harder. Gail led his life as fighter and ended it the same way on a warm October 21, 2025 afternoon in Fillmore, as he requested, with his family by his side.

Gail is survived by his wife, Vickiann; children, Deanne (Joe) Hare, Julie (Matthew) Anderson, Steve G. (Rebecca) Mitchell and his greatest loves, the grandkids. Siblings, Paul (Jodie) Mitchell and Irene Scott, Evelyn (Leroy) Parker, Lloyd (Pam) Robison, Bruce (Mary) Robison, Robin (Jerilyn) Robison. Preceded in death, his parents, Newel and DeVaun Mitchell, and his nieces, Ginger Gonder and Lisle Peterson.

Viewing, Sunday, October 26, 2025, 6p-8p, Fillmore Stake Center. Funeral services, Monday, October 27, 2025, 11a, with viewing beforehand 9:30a, Fillmore Stake Center, 25 S 300 W, Fillmore, Utah. Interment will be at the Fillmore Cemetery under direction of Olpin Stevens Funeral Home. To view the funeral stream or to offer online condolences are available at www.olpinstevensfuneralhome.com.