MARY MARTHA FORD MITCHELL, 94 WINTER HAVEN - Mary Martha Ford Mitchell, age 94 young, devoted daughter, loving wife, cherished mother and a wonderful grandmother, passed away from natural causes February 19, 2012, with her daughters by her side. She was born in St. Louis, MO. At an early age, she moved to Chicago, her beloved and favorite city. Even at her age, she could still give you the street names in Chicago. Her father, Charles Columbus Ford, who was in the Oklahoma land rush and her mother, Lydia, who she called "Mother Dear", gave her a home of love, laughter, and stability. Her talent of dancing led her to dance on many stages, recital and events in and around Chicago. She even danced with the legendry Rudolph Valentino. From the age of 5 to 13, she could dance the Tango, Ballroom dancing, Tap, Jazz and her first love, the Ballet. They moved to beautiful suburb of Riverside, a great town for raising a family. Her parents wanted her to have a normal childhood so she stopped her dancing and went to the local schools, Mary often said she had the happiest and fun childhood that she remembered all of her life. She graduated from the Riverside High School and from Frances Shimer College for Women. She told her daughter, Maureen, that education was very important to her father because he did not get a formal school at a young age. Mary said he would be so proud that two of his granddaughters are teachers. Mary met her future husband, Bob Mitchell, whom she had met in school. Both had been in many big weddings and they wanted a simple ceremony so they eloped to Indiana in April 17, 1937. They were married for 60 years. They loved living in Riverside making their home a warm and comfortable place to raise their daughters. Mary often said she had the best of both worlds; the excitement of Chicago and the relaxing and serene neighborhood feeling of Riverside. This started Mary's joy of her life caring for her family. She was a gracious hostess who loved entertaining in her home. She also volunteered as a Red Cross lady by knitting scarves and blankets for the soldiers during World War Two. Mary loved going to their summer home at Klinger Lake in Michigan. She called it Heaven on Earth. The family dinner table was probably one of her favorite times. Both her family and friends prized the jokes, stories, laughter and the late night card games. She cherished the happy times when the whole family got to the lake. That was the time when she really enjoyed her two wonderful granddaughters, Tracy and Laura. The late night full moon sailboat rides with her husband just added to her joy. They moved to Winter Haven in 1960 to take care of her father. She had a busy time taking excellent care of her father and raising her daughters. She was involved in being a homeroom mother, local volunteer work, and a neighborhood mom. Mary was also a member of various garden clubs and of the First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven. She loved having the kids at her house and enjoyed hearing the happy noises of children playing and laughing. Mary still enjoyed going to art festivals, amusement parks, beaches, Bok Tower, dog parks, plays, ballet, music festivals and traveling back to Michigan in the summer. "I loved taking her to these places because she enjoyed it so much as was so thankful she could still be on the go", Maureen said. She especially took pleasure in going out to eat at many restaurants. She often said there are so many things and people to watch, I barely have time to eat. She also adored her dog, Katie. Mary, Maureen and Katie would go to dog parks and she loved to watch all the dogs and kids. The love of people and her kindness endeared her to all till the end. Her positive attitude and her sense of humor inspired all who knew her. She will also be remembered by her gentle soul and her sweet smile. Her husband precedes Mary in death, Robert "Bob" Mitchell. Her great granddaughter, True Townsend Rhodes. Her survivors include her loving daughter Dianne Mitchell Townsend, Maureen Ford Mitchell and Bonnie Mitchell Sutton, son-in-law Kenneth Townsend, her treasured granddaughters Tracy Townsend and Laura Rhodes and her husband Ken Rhodes, her precious great granddaughter Sally Kay Rhodes, her dear sister-in-law Ellen Brearley Jones and several nieces and nephews. We would also like to thank her wonderful caregiver for the past six years, Elisha Jernigan, who gave sweet, loving care to Mary. We also would like to thank Stephanie Sock, who helped to take care of her. Viewing will be Thursday, February 23, 2012 from 5-7:30 pm at Crisp-Coon Funeral Home on First Street in Winter Haven. The service will be Friday, February 24, 2012 at 2:30 pm at the Crisp-Coon Chapel. A reception will follow at the Arcades on Third Street in the Savahnna Room.