Mary Johnée West Mitchell

Mary Johnée West Mitchell, 72, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2023.

Mary was born on December 18, 1950, to Kenneth and Nova West in Corpus Christi. Mary grew up in the Calallen area with her parents, two brothers and two sisters. Mary fondly remembered her childhood and often relayed humorous and heartfelt stories of all their antics and shenanigans.

Mary graduated from Calallen High School in 1969 and pursued a degree in business management, soon finding her way into a professional career where she worked for several high-profile companies in administration and international sales. She later switched her career path to medicine and became a dialysis nurse for many years.

Mary’s true love was her family. Amiee Van Winkle was her only child and one of her proudest accomplishments. She was proud of the strong and independent woman she had become and the beautiful family she created. Amiee eventually lost “top billing” to Meri-Ashton Van Winkle, Mary’s cherished and only grandchild. She was the “baby” and Mary would do absolutely anything for her. Mary recently got to meet the newest love of her life, Ryder, her great-grandson. She declared it was a life-long dream to hold a great-grand child.

Mary was a strong and admittedly stubborn woman, who fought many medical battles. But she defied the odds many times and survived breast cancer twice, and was living independently after a major stroke where the doctors didn’t think she’d ever leave a nursing facility. She proudly enjoyed her independence and strength. In the last few years, her friendships in her community blossomed and she spent a lot of time perfecting her chili for the chili cookoff, in bible study with new found friends, and becoming a dominos champion.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Amiee Van Winkle (Edward); grand-daughter, Meri-Ashton Van Winkle Conrad (Alex); great-grandson, Ryder Conrad; her sisters, Monica Seaman (Steve), Charlotte Lysinger; her brother, Kenneth West (Dorothy); her Aunt Nell; nieces, Lori West, Julia Mayfield (Brian), Katie Sekula (Justin), Aubrie Ryherd (Jason), and Elizabeth Lysinger; nephews, Kenny West and Andy Seaman, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her beloved parents, Nova and Kenneth West; her brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Joyce West and her niece, Nicole West Horak.

Services will be held on Tuesday, July 11^th at Sawyer-George Funeral Home, 12497 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78410. The visitation will be from 12pm – 1pm and the Holy Rosary and Rite of Christian Burial will begin at 1pm, followed by a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Robstown, Texas.