Shirley Ann Mitchell, 89

Shirley Ann Mitchell, 89, of Kalispell, passed away on Sept. 9, 2026.

Shirley was born on Oct. 20, 1936, in Havre, to Steve and Edith Waverick. She shared 49 years of marriage with her husband, Lonnie Mitchell, building a life together filled with family, faith, and many cherished memories.

Shirley was strong-willed, stubborn, feisty and had an infectious laugh. She loved painting, gardening, bird watching and spending time with her family. Above all, she loved Jehovah, and her faith remained an important and enduring part of her life.

Some of Shirley’s happiest moments were the simple ones. She loved sitting on the porch watching her birds, especially the bluebirds. Sparrows, on the other hand, were decidedly less welcome, and Shirley was known to go to great lengths to make sure they stayed away from her beloved bluebirds.

She was a talented painter, and one of her most treasured paintings was of the farmhouse she and Lonnie shared in Stevensville, Montana - a place that held many memories for them.

As a grandmother, Shirley shared her love of cooking with her grandchildren, spending time in the kitchen teaching them recipes and passing along the knowledge she had gathered over the years. Those lessons became about much more than food; they became memories her grandchildren will carry with them.

Shirley also had a way of saying things that was entirely her own. After once seeing a family member get bucked off a horse, she observed, “It’s never good to see a saddled horse without a rider. Is everyone okay?” It was classic Shirley — practical, a little feisty and concerned about the people around her.

And then there were her hats. Anyone who knew Shirley knew about the hats. She simply did not leave the house without one. They became part of her signature and, much like Shirley herself, were impossible to overlook and impossible to forget.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 49 years, Lonnie Mitchell; her son, Rexford Miller and his wife, Sherry Miller; her grandchildren, Joshua Miller, Jacob Miller, Sarah Miller and Jordan Miller; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sharon Miller; her parents, Steve and Edith Waverick; her sister, Carol Waverick Hardin and her brother, Leonard Waverick.

Shirley leaves behind 89 years of memories and a family who will remember her in countless little ways: in the kitchen, in the garden, in the sight of a bluebird, in a painting of an old farmhouse, in a perfectly timed remark and whenever they see a beautiful hat.

A memorial service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 100 Valley View Court, Kalispell, MT 59901.