Patti Mitcham

Patti Jeanne Harris Mitcham

February 1, 1932 – May 2, 2020

Patti Mitcham of Roswell, NM passed away Saturday, May 2, 2020 at her residence from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Patti was 88 years old at the time of her death. Patti, or Moms as she was known to her grandchildren, was born in Garland, TX the daughter of Arthur B. Harris and Faires Franklin Harris, and sister to Fannie Elizabeth Harris Kidd. Patti grew up in Garland, TX and graduated from Garland High School, class of 1949. Patti graduated from Texas Tech University, with honors, with the class of 1953.

At Texas Tech, Patti met her life-long love, Ray Mitcham. They married on April 5, 1953 and together had six children. In 1960, Patti and Ray moved from Lubbock, TX to Roswell, NM. In April of 2013 Patti and Ray celebrated 60 years of marriage with their children, grandchildren and many friends.

Patti had many achievements throughout her life and was a leader in the Roswell community. She served on the Board of Directors of the Roswell Assistance League. In 2004, Patti was honored when The Roswell Community League dedicated its park at 1001 W. Mescalero Road to her. Patti and Ray attended both First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church. It was at the First Presbyterian Church where she and Ray cooked breakfast every Sunday morning for the congregation for many years. Patti was a fixture at Berrendo Middle School and Goddard High School sporting events supporting her children from 1968-1981.

In the mid-1970s, with her love of food and her vast culinary skills, Patti began offering cooking classes to the community. Patti was especially well-known for her yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls and was an avid fan of chef Julia Childs and French cooking. In the early 1980s, Patti ran the Service League’s “Tea Room” and also began her catering business. Patti was a culinary consultant to the Artesia and Roswell Country Clubs as well as other establishments. In the mid-1980s Patti opened “Flavours”, a restaurant located on the ground floor of what is now the Wells Fargo Building. In 1994 she started consulting with Brinkman Randle at Tinnie Mercantile Deli in Roswell.

Patti was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Mitcham, and son, Matt Mitcham. Patti is survived by two sons: David Mitcham of Westminster, CA; Mark Mitcham and his wife, Sue Raby Mitcham, of Dallas, TX; three daughters: Melinda Mitcham Creamer of Roswell; Margaret Mitcham and her wife, Nicole Franco of San Antonio, TX; and Millicent McLane and her husband, Dave McLane of Dallas, TX. Other survivors include her four grandchildren: Matthew Crosby Mitcham and his wife Taylor, MeLisa Ray Creamer, Michaela Patti Creamer, and Katie Nicole Ridings and her husband Taylor; and great-granddaughter, Olivia Ann Alkire; great-grandsons, Crosby Liv Mitcham and Cooper Davis Mitcham.

The family will be holding a celebration of Patti's life, which will be announced at a later time, when those who knew and loved her can gather together and remember the beautiful kind friend and amazing woman we lost.

Thank you to Kindred Hospice and especially to Stacey Maxwell for her dedication and kindness.

The family requests that flowers not be sent. Patti and her children would much prefer that you make a donation on her behalf to one of the following charities:

The Assurance Home at 1000 E. 18th Street, Roswell, NM 88201 or online at http://www.assurancehome.org/donate.htm

The Community Kitchen at PO Box 3010, Roswell, NM 88202 or online at https://www.centerfornonprofitexcellence.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=2

The Alzheimer's Association at P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate