Reed J Mitton, 77, passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, February 11, 2024. Reed was born January 21, 1947, in Montpelier, Idaho, a son of Melvin James & LaVelma Mitton.
Reed was the youngest of four children. At the age of six, his family moved from Idaho to rural Smithfield in northern Utah. He learned to love guns after the gift of a gun from his brother-in-law, Arch. He and his gun could be found roaming and exploring the hills around his home. He grew up big and strong as he worked hard on the farm, where his father raised registered Hereford bulls. He plowed fields, grew crops, and threw hay bales to feed the cattle. He was an avid horseman and used his skills to wrangle the herd. He was a real cowboy, one of his favorite sayings was, “big hat, no cattle.”
He graduated from Smithfield High School (UT) and served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern California Mission from 1966-1968. Upon his return he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Ann Gubler, November 15, 1968, in the Logan Utah Temple.
Reed attended Utah State University where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Not long after graduation he was hired by Schreiber Foods, Inc. in Logan, Utah. In 1974 he transferred to the Carthage, Missouri plant where he was Head of Engineering and Maintenance. He cared greatly for the wellbeing of his co-workers and the maintenance team. He also served for many years on the Carthage Water Levy Board and even spent time as the board president.
Reed was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he held many responsible positions and helped the church to grown in this area. On March 16, 1980, a Branch of the church was organized in Carthage and Reed was the first Branch President. Later when the Branch became a Ward, Reed served as a bishop from 1998 to 1999, and then a counselor in the Joplin Missouri Stake until 2005. He continued to serve valiantly in many church callings and made a significant impact on many members within the Joplin and Monett Missouri Stakes of the church.
Reed was an incredibly hard worker and taught his two daughters to always give 100%. He enjoyed motorcycles, cars, tinkering in his shop, woodworking, fishing, mowing the lawn and had a soft spot for cats & dogs.
Reed retired early from Schreiber Foods, where he worked for 34 years, to care for his sweet wife Ruth Ann while she battled cancer in 2005-2006. After losing Ruth Ann, he was blessed to meet, court, and marry Kathleen (Kathy) Willis Perkins on the 29th of September 2007, in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Reed is survived by his wife Kathy; two daughters Jeannette (Ryan) Nye, Carthage, Missouri; Heather Mitton Sellers, Gilbert, Arizona; 6 grandchildren, Lauren Sellers, Zachary Nye, Tyler Nye, Joshua Sellers, Trey Nye and Aydan Nye; his sister Joyce Rainey, St. George, Utah. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Ann; sister Margene Thurston, and brother Melvin James Mitton Jr.
Also surviving are Kathy’s seven children; Reuben Willis (Erin), Juneau, Alaska; Vance Willis (Sherry), Sequim, Washington; Kelly Mendiola (Ron), Austin, Texas; Catherine Willis, Austin, Texas; Ben Willis (Laurie), Lehi, Utah; Kristal Jenkins (DeMont), Hutto, Texas; Laura Lewis (Brad), Bella Vista, Arkansas and twenty-four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services to honor Reed will be held Saturday, February 24, 2024. The Viewing will be held at 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. followed by Funeral Services at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1338 East Fairview Ave., Carthage, Missouri. Interment will be at Park Cemetery-Mausoleums, Carthage, Missouri.
Online condolences may be made at www.ulmerfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.
