Steven Dale Mitchell
August 5, 1948 - February 10, 2026

Steve Mitchell was born on August 5, 1948, in Indianapolis, Indiana, but moved to Garland, Texas, at age three. Most of his childhood memories are rooted in Garland, where he grew up in a modest home with his parents and siblings. His early years were marked by strong family influence, neighborhood friendships, and a steady involvement in church life at First Presbyterian Church.
As a child, Steve was energetic and often mischievous. He spent much of his time outdoorsâ€"riding bikes, exploring creeks, playing pickup sports, and getting into harmless trouble with neighborhood friends. Baseball became his first true passion. With his father's encouragement, he played Little League and later Colt League, earning All-Star recognition and developing into a strong infielder. Though he also played football and basketball, baseball remained his strongest sport.
Church attendance was consistent throughout his upbringing, though he later reflected that his early faith was more external than personal. While he was known as a ''Christian kid,'' he did not develop a deep personal understanding of his faith until his twenties.
In junior high and high school, Steve remained active in sports and academics. He was a good student, earning National Honor Society recognition, though he preferred having fun over school involvement. He worked jobs during high school, including delivering for Chicken Delight and unloading trucks for Kraft. Athletically, he earned a starting role at defensive cornerback his junior year and helped win a state championship. His senior year, he served as co-captain.
He began dating Martha Minnerly in 1965. Though their relationship had ups and downs during high school, it eventually deepened into lasting love. After graduation, Steve briefly pursued a military academy path but instead joined the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era. He completed basic training and later attended the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, eventually transferring to West Point in 1967.
At West Point, Steve excelled academically, graduating in the top 10[%] of his class. He participated in lacrosse, boxing, and intramural football. However, as the Vietnam War intensified and anti-military sentiment grew, he began questioning his path. In 1969, after much thought, he resigned from West Point.
He enrolled at Texas Tech University, and he and Martha married in December 1969. During this time, his faith became deeply personal and transformative, influenced by involvement in Lubbock Bible Church and Campus Crusade for Christ. A key moment came through spiritual counseling that gave him lasting assurance in his beliefs. From then on, Scripture and ministry became central in his life.
In 1970, shortly after finals, a tornado destroyed their apartment in Lubbock. They narrowly escaped injury, though the storm killed many in the area. This dramatic event marked an unforgettable early chapter of their marriage.
After graduating, they moved to Amarillo, where Steve began work in plant engineering at the Pantex Plant. Over the years, he changed roles, eventually working as an electrical engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad and later with Goetting & Associates. They built a home and settled into raising their childrenâ€"Matthew, DJ, Samuel, and Jonathan.
Family life in Amarillo was busy and meaningful. The Mitchells were deeply involved in church life, Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), Bible Memory Association, and later AWANA. Martha became especially active in children's ministry, mentoring and teaching for years. Steve also served on the board of West Texas Christian School and helped build a new campus in 1983.
The family lived modestly but contentedly, prioritizing faith, service, and time together over material wealth. They enjoyed vacations, outdoor activities, sports, music lessons, and countless everyday memoriesâ€"bike rides, backyard forts, neighborhood games, and church involvement.
Throughout his story, Steve reflects honestly on his weaknessesâ€"immaturity in youth, missed spiritual opportunities, and struggles as a brother and fatherâ€"while emphasizing God's grace as the steady thread through every season. From mischievous childhood to military training, from college doubts to a maturing faith, from newlywed hardships to raising a family, his life story centers on growth, perseverance, and a deepening walk with Christ.
He was a man shaped by family, sports, service, faith, and resilienceâ€"grateful for the journey and mindful of the grace that carried him through it.
He is survived by his wife, Martha; children, Matthew, Dara Jayne, Samuel, Jonathan; sister, Rose Ann. Steve has a brother who passed days before Steve; Donny Mitchell
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.

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