Naomi Mitchell

Naomi W. Mitchell, 97, of Crawfordsville, passed away on December 12, 2025.

Naomi, the daughter of Homer and Lottie Bayless Robison, was born August 5, 1928. She was a graduate of Waveland High School and majored in nursing at Indiana and Ball State Universities.

She was married to Fred J. Mitchell, who passed away March 1, 2002. They resided in Parke County for 32 years, where they were active members in the Byron Christian and Marshall Federated Churches. At the time of her passing, she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Crawfordsville and previously served as a Deaconess.

She and her husband were members of the American Polled Hereford Association. Their son and grandson are carrying on the tradition. Fred and Naomi were 4-H Leaders for several years, believing it taught children work ethics, structure and responsibility. Each served on the Parke County 4-H Council and Fair Board. Naomi received the Indiana 4-H State Foundation Award from Purdue. She was past president of the Busy Homemakers and Women's Club at Marshall and served on several Extension Committees.

Naomi worked at Culver Hospital and Community Action, Inc. and assisted with the County Mentally Retarded Association in Parke County. She retired from Abilities Services, Inc., as a Placement Counselor and received the State Placement Counselor of the Year Award in 1987, from Indiana Rehabilitation Association. During President Reagan's term she was appointed to serve on the National Committee for Disabilities in Indiana and for this she was honored in Washington D.C. and placed in the National Distinguished Service Registry in the Library of Congress.

She was a member and Historian of PEO, a former member of Professional Business Women's Association, and served on the boards of Area IV Council on Aging and Habitat for Humanity. She was a 65-plus year member of the Order of Eastern Star and was Worthy Grand Matron of Indiana in 1980-81, at which time she was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. She also served for many years as an election poll worker.

Survivors are her daughters Sharon (Monty) Harris, Crawfordsville and Rebecca (Nate) Hester, Indianapolis; son Paul David (Diane) Mitchell, Kingman; grandchildren Ann (David) Smith, Indianapolis, Dr. Stephen (Kambria) Harris, Amherst, NH, Sharell Rivers, Indianapolis, Jameson Rivers, Phoenix, AZ, Amber (Josh) Holt, Veedersburg, Kelly (Glen) Price, Crawfordsville, and Paul Michael Mitchell, Kingman; twelve great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death her husband; her infant son, Stephen; her parents; and her brothers Gerald, Gordon and Charles (Bill) Robison and sister Margaret Allen.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, December 17 at Sanders Funeral Care, 315 S. Washington St., Crawfordsville, with the Rev. Brian Holt and Pete Utterback officiating. Eastern Star services will precede the funeral at 11:45 a.m. Burial will follow at Freedom Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until the start of the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Berean Class, First Baptist Church, 1905 Lebanon Road, Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933.

Share memories online at www.SandersFuneralCare.com.