Lecinda Sue (Kmetko) Mitchell (March 2, 1944), following several long battles with cancer, died at home in Keizer, on May 31, 2019. Thomas Mitchell, her husband of more than 55 years, and children Jason Mitchell and Leslie Mitchell, were by her side.
Born in Ravenna, Ohio to Keith and Wilma (Biles) Kmetko, the family then moved to Tucson, Ariz., in the 1950s and eventually settled in Phoenix where she graduated from Carl Hayden High School in 1962. She excelled at math, studied dance with her twin sister Linda and younger sister Nancy, and enjoyed cheerleading and pom pom groups throughout high school. Her positivity, enthusiasm and loyalty carried through her adult life and were reflected in the support and love she showed to her family and friends.
In December 1963, she married her high school sweetheart in front of family and friends in Phoenix, Ariz. After the arrival of son Jason, the family of three moved to Fullerton, Calif. for the birth of daughter Leslie. From there the family moved to Tacoma, Wash., and eventually in Tigard, Ore. in 1981. In 1993 she moved to Salem with husband Tom to help run the moving and storage business they purchased. In 1998, they built their dream home together in Keizer. Thanks in part to her financial and bookkeeping skills, they sold the business and retired in 2013.
Cindy, as family and friends knew her, loved Christmas, home decorating (she was a champion wall paper-er), dance and arts and crafts of all sorts. She was known to crochet afghans for all those she loved. Some of her favorite pastimes include doting on her grandchildren, and telling people about her daughter’s dental practice and enlightening people to the existence of Pink Martini (the band her son works for). She supported numerous political and social causes. She was quick to smile, and guests in her home were typically well fed.
She is survived by her husband Thomas (Keizer, Ore.), son Jason (Portland, Oregon), daughter Leslie (Tualatin, Ore.) as well as grandchildren Parker, Riley, and Lillie, and son-in-law Nick. Her sunbeam presence will never be forgotten.