Ann Mitchell

Ann Carroll Mitchell died peacefully on April 5, 2021with family by her side following a decline in health. Ann was born December 29, 1930 to Mayme and William “Bill” Carroll of Dillon and Jackson, MT. She married Gile H. Mitchell on August 24, 1957 and was the loving mother of five children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Ann is survived by Gile; children Debora, Bradley, and Timothy (Laura); grandchildren Brian (Maureen) Hanna, Stephanie (Doug) Holstein, Alexa Mitchell, Emeree Mitchell, Michael Mitchell, Nicholas Mitchell, Amanda Mitchell, and Bryce Mitchell; great grandchildren Moxie Holstein, Zell Holstein, and Adley Hanna; daughter-in-law Gloria Mitchell; and sister-in-law Nola (Stanford) Empey. Ann is preceded in death by her parents, sons Gregory and Jeffrey, sister Mary Lou (Bill) Kajin, and brother Joseph Carroll. Ann attended school in Dillon through her junior year of high school and completed her senior year at Saint Mary of the Wasatch School in Salt Lake City, UT where she graduated in 1949. She received her degree from Seattle University in 1955. Ann returned to Dillon and was working as a bookkeeper and office manager for the Ford Motor dealership when she met Gile while he was on leave prior to shipping out to Korea. Following their marriage and a honeymoon in Canada, Ann and Gile moved to Idaho where Debora (1958) and Gregory (1959) were born. Wanting to return to Dillon, they moved back in 1960 and purchased Ann’s family home from her mother’s estate. The couple welcomed their next three children over the next few years, Jeffrey (1960), Bradley (1961), and Timothy (1963). After 16 years of being at home as a fulltime mother, Ann returned to work as a bookkeeper in 1973 for the local movie theater and then for Cenex Cooperative until 1986. Ann and Gile relocated to Helena, MT from 1986–1989 while Gile worked for the Office of Public Instruction. They then returned to Dillon and Ann returned to work for Cenex until her retirement in 1993. Ann focused her time on family and friends and activities that allowed her to spend time with them. She was an active member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Dillon. She enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, and socializing. In more recent years, she found enjoyment in water aerobics at the Southwestern Montana Family YMCA in Dillon, which was just as much about coffee with her friends after the exercise sessions. She was proud of her long family history surrounding Dillon and Beaverhead County and was always ready to tell stories about her past and the history of the Big Hole Valley. She believed and lived by the adage, “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” She lived a long full life, but her loving gentle soul will be greatly missed. The family would like to thank Marie Holt and the caring staff of Barrett Hospital Hospice Care for their support and attention during Ann’s final days. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Barrett Hospital Home Health and Hospice Care, or to a charity of your choice. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 16, 2021 at 3:00 pm at St. Rose Catholic Church. Graveside services and interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon, MT at a later date.