Sharon Lee Mitchell

Sharon Lee Mitchell (née Archer), 79, passed away September 12, 2025, in Minnesota. She was born January 8, 1946, in St. Louis to the late James "Frank" Archer and Allene E. Archer (née Green).

Known affectionately as "Sharee," Sharon grew up in a loving home and graduated from Riverview Gardens Senior High in 1963. In school, she sang in the glee club and choir, participated in the dramatic club, and pursued her love of art. Music remained a thread throughout her life – she sang folk songs in her younger years and in church choirs as an adult. Sharon briefly attended art classes at Washington University in St. Louis and later at the University of Central Oklahoma, nurturing her creative spirit for decades.

After high school, she worked in retail before joining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in St. Louis, where she met her future husband, Steven L. Mitchell, at the office copy machine. Steve, a Vietnam veteran and licensed pilot, was captivated by her warmth and wit. The farm boy and city girl married on April 12, 1980, beginning a 45-year partnership built on devotion, respect, and shared faith. Sharon often joined Steve in the cockpit as his co-pilot, even reading instruments on Sunday flights to Mexico, Missouri for dinner. She was also the one who gently convinced him to retire his skydiving gear after nearly 2,000 jumps – a testament to her steady influence and love.

Sharon's greatest joy was family. After welcoming their daughter Rebecca, she stepped away from her career to focus on motherhood. The Mitchells made homes in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Minnesota, forging lifelong friendships and memories. In retirement, Steve and Sharon returned to Missouri, settling in Cape Fair and building their dream home on Table Rock Lake. Time there were filled with fish fry dinners, neighborhood gatherings, and Fourth of July celebrations with grandchildren.

Creative and thoughtful, Sharon loved reading, genealogy, scrapbooking, collecting antiques, and classic films. She saved every photograph and card she received. She volunteered faithfully through her churches – including Third Baptist and Kirkwood Baptist in St. Louis and First Baptist in Edmond, Oklahoma – serving on committees, in food banks, soup kitchens, and wherever help was needed.

In recent years, Sharon and Steve returned to Minnesota to be near Rebecca, son-in-law Josh, and their three grandchildren, who brought her tremendous joy.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Margaret and Charles Mitchell; and brothers-in-law Rick Lake and Terry Sbabo. She is survived by her husband, Steve, daughter Rebecca Metcalf (Josh), grandchildren Charles, Josephine, and Howard, sister Venita Lake, brother-in-law Stan Mitchell, sisters-in-law Sharon Sbabo and Sandy Fuller (Greg), seven nieces, one nephew, and many cousins and friends who cherished her.

A visitation will be held Friday, September 19, from 12–1:30 p.m. at Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, with graveside service to follow at Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend their deep appreciation and gratitude to all who helped care for Sharon for their kindness, compassion, and dignity.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Sharon's memory.