David Keast Mitchell

David Keast Mitchell, was born June 26, 1935, in Ishpeming, Mich., to Marian Keast Mitchell and Paul Clyde Mitchell. He passed away March 20, 2012. He graduated with honors from Michigan Technological University in 1957. He began his professional career as a process engineer for Inland Steel in Indiana in 1957. He then worked for a succession of small, innovative technological companies in the 1960s leading to a 23-year career with the Xerox Corporation. During this time, he and his wife, Sofia Miriam Junttila Mitchell, raised three children. David's life was about discovery, lifelong learning, service, dedication, loyalty and family. In 1987, he retired from Xerox, having served as Vice-President of Customer Education and Support and National Sales Manager. Over the following two decades, he devoted himself to community service at home and abroad. This included Peace Corps service in Grenada, 1988-1990, where he worked with the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Following the Peace Corps, he and his wife worked with the International Executive Service Corps, which took them to Russia and Egypt, 1990-1992. In 1997, he moved from Santa Monica, Calif., to Prescott where he became an active community member, working as a small business consultant with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). He also volunteered with the Symphony Board for three years, and with the United Methodist Church, as a van driver, usher and accounting office volunteer. During these years, he was often seen at Acker Park, cleaning up litter during his daily walks. Throughout his life, he sought ways to contribute to the local community, supporting a range of organizations from the Salvation Army to Prescott High School sports teams. In addition to community service, he was devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren. He particularly sought out ways to expand their horizons, by asking questions, being relentlessly curious, challenging them to think for themselves, and always taking them to events and locales like Frontier Days here in Prescott, the Jet Propulsion Lab, the Will Rogers Ranch in southern California, and a special expedition into the banana groves of Grenada. He was unceasingly interested in both the world and his local environment. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sofia Miriam Mitchell; his three children, Jeffrey (Rosa), Elisabeth (David) and Paul (Vickey); seven grandchildren, Noemi (Jesus), Sofia, Elisabeth, Alexander, Andrew (Lolly), Quirina and Ana; and two great-grandchildren, Jesus and Isaiah. They love him a lot. He is also survived by his two brothers, Bruce (Sally) and Dan (Kaye) and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012, at the Prescott United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.