Elissa Lanell Mitchell

Elissa Lanell Mitchell, 89 years young, was born on April 12, 1932 in Mangum, Oklahoma, and was welcomed into Heaven on April 14, 2021 from her home in Oklahoma City, surrounded by her daughters and granddaughters.She was the second eldest of eight children, and had a special relationship with each sibling growing up in a two-bedroom home on NW 29th. Elissa graduated from Central High School in 1950, where she excelled academically, leading her to become one of the first women to hold a management position for Hertz Corporation. She continued to prove that women could be intelligent, strong and master the art of delegation, not only inside the home, but also in the workforce. She was a remarkable sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and great grandmother to all, and nothing gave her more joy than being around them, sharing her love of late-night chats with her sisters, gardening, baking, and especially playing Liverpool gin rummy. Given any opportunity to dance, she lit up the dance floor with her signature moves and incandescent smile, no one could resist. She was a wise counselor, practical and sound in her advice, with her love of Jesus and our Lord as her foundation. Most of all, she loved to travel the world with her family, creating vivid memories, and incessant laughter in the midst of chaos.Elissa was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Gertrude Duffy, her sisters, Katherine and Loretta, her brother, Pat, and daughter-in-law, Julie Mitchell. She will be greatly missed and survived by her sister, Clydellen and husband Jerry; brothers, Marcus and wife Kathy, Mike and wife Denise, and Paul and wife Margaret; daughter, Debra Brooks and husband Bill, son, Teddy Mitchell and London; and daughter, Billie Mitchell and Robbie. She leaves behind an unbelievable legacy of love and undeniable beauty, filling the hearts of her 4 siblings, 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren."We will never be the same as we were before this loss, but are ever so much better for having had someone so great to lose."The family will receive friends at Smith & Kernke N. May from 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at Smith & Kernke N. May Chapel. Burial will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.