Mitchell Fritchey

(From Parker Mortuary)

Mitchell L. Fritchey, age 73 of Joplin, Missouri went to his eternal home in Heaven at 9:20am on July 17, 2015. He passed away at his home surrounded by his family after battling a short illness.

Mitch was born February 17, 1942, in Seneca, Missouri to the late Mary Provins Fritchey and Sherman Fritchey. He was a 1960 graduate of Sarcoxie High School and he served in the National Guard.

Mitch began his newspaper career while still in high school at Sarcoxie. He worked for the Kansas City Star, the Joplin Globe and the Aurora Advertiser. He was the owner, editor and publisher of several Missouri weekly newspapers including the Republic Monitor, Douglas County Herald, Dallas County Republican and the Buffalo Reflex. In 1975 Mitch served as a press aide in Washington D.C for US Congressman Gene Taylor. After moving to Joplin in 1979 he owned and operated Fast Copy Printing and Pro-Print in Pittsburg, Kansas for over 25 years.

Mitch was a Christian and had attended First Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Sherman Fritchey, a brother, Lyle Fritchey, and a sister, Zee Louise Fritchey.

Survivors include his wife of 23 years Joyce Carr Baldridge Fritchey, of the home; daughter, Robyn Fritchey Burkes and her husband David, Lone Tree, Colorado; two step daughters, Becky Taylor and her husband Terry, Joplin and Amanda Baldridge, Joplin; grandchildren, Grace Burkes and Carter Burkes, Lone Tree, Colorado; Molly Taylor and Nathan Taylor, Pensacola, Florida; Ryan Taylor, Joplin; Leeann Taylor, Joplin. Additional survivors include his sister, Linda Lea Kimbrel and her husband Bill, Joplin; nephews, Grant Fritchey, Will Kimbrel, Richard Fritchey and Matt Fritchey; niece Michelle Fritchey Hughes and his former wife, Karen Fritchey.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 5pm on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at Parker Mortuary in Joplin. Services will be at 11am on Monday, July 20, 2015 at Parker Mortuary in Joplin with Terry Taylor officiating. Burial will be at Stone Cemetery, Diamond Grove, Missouri.

Pallbearers are Carter Burkes, David Burkes, Nathan Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Bill Kimbrel and Will Kimbrel. Honorary pallbearers are Lonnie Houston, Wayne Rieschel, John Eckhart and Virgil Carr.