Lona Mitchell

A Blessed Life, Full of Love, Adventure & a Little Mischief

If Lona were asked to describe her life, she would simply say, “I lived a blessed life.” And she did. But if you were lucky enough to know Lona, you also knew that her blessed life came with plenty of laughter, adventure, a little mischief, and more love than one heart should have been able to hold.

Lona Mitchell, born March 24, 1943, was reunited with her sweetheart of 64 years peacefully on September 10, 2026, while comforted by her loved ones. After a life beautifully centered around family, faith, adventure, and service, Lona left this life surrounded by love.

From the very beginning, Lona had a zest for life and the outdoors. As a little girl, she could often be found following her brothers along a fence line, chasing a lizard, or simply chasing misceif… check with Roland for more info. That adventurous spirit never left her.

When she married her sweetheart, Lynn, things didn't change much. Her passion for adventure simply shifted into supporting Lynn as they built a life together, raising six children, running multiple businesses, pursuing countless passions, serving a mission, and, perhaps most importantly, finding every possible reason to bring their family together.

Keeping her family close was Lona's superpower. But perhaps her greatest superpower was her ability to find the silver lining in almost anything. Whether facing physical hardships, life's unexpected challenges, or one of Lynn's many work adventures, Lona had a remarkable way of putting a positive spin on things. She didn't dwell on what was difficult; she looked for what could be learned, what could be enjoyed, and how they could make the best of whatever came their way. Her optimism wasn't simply something she talked about, it was the way she lived.

She loved impromptu visitors, family gatherings, creating fun activities, and playing any and every game she could convince someone to join. She was, of course, a completely honest and fair player…never cheating, wink, wink. She had a gift for turning ordinary moments into memories and making people feel like there was always something to celebrate.

Her home was a place where people were welcomed, laughter came easily, and there was always room for one more. Lona understood that life wasn't always going to be easy, but she believed there was almost always a reason to smile, something to be grateful for, and someone to love. And then there was her cooking.

Lona didn't just cook food; she poured love into every recipe. Her chocolate cake was undeniably the best, and her cheesecake was a delicacy that became a much-requested tradition for birthdays and holidays. Somehow, everything tasted a little better when Lona made it, not simply because of the recipe, but because of the love that went into making it.

Her greatest joy was her family. She loved deeply, without conditions and without keeping score. By the way she lived, that unconditional love stretched far beyond her immediate family to anyone fortunate enough to know her. She had a way of making people feel welcome, cared for, and part of something bigger than themselves.

Lona's life was not measured by accomplishments or possessions (unless we count her giraffes), but by relationships. She created memories, traditions, laughter, and a family legacy that will continue for generations. She taught those around her that life was meant to be lived, people were meant to be loved, families were meant to gather, and delicious food should be shared.

She was preceded in death by her sweetheart, Lynn Mitchell; her parents, Roland and Ellen Anderson; and six of her siblings. Lona leaves behind a family who loves her deeply: her children, Dayne (Karen) Mitchell of St. George; Angela (Kory) Saxton of Central; Eric (Ember) Mitchell of St. George; Karen (Scott) Saxton of St. George; Jeff (Shannon) Mitchell of Idaho; and Kenny (Kelli) Mitchell of Idaho; forty-five grandchildren; eighty-seven great-grandchildren (and counting); along with her three brothers and many in-laws that she loved dearly. Her family was her greatest joy, and her love will continue to live on through every generation she leaves behind including great-great-grandkids coming this year.

The family would like to thank Zion's Way for their compassionate care, as well as the incredible medical professionals who provided Lona with excellent care and service over the years.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, located at 900 S. River Road, St. George, Utah 84790. Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the same location.

A graveside service will follow at the Cedar City Cemetery, 685 N. Main Street, Cedar City, Utah 84721, at 2:00 p.m.