Allen Roy Mitchel

Allen Roy Mitchel, age 73 of Springdale, Ark., died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at the Earlene Howard Hospice House. He was born in Oak Forest, Ark., to his late parents John F. and Ellen Cole Mitchell on Aug. 13, 1938. Allen graduated from T.A. Futrall High School in Marianna, Ark., where he played football and basketball. Allen grew up as part of a sharecropper family and knew to make it to college, he must dream big and work hard. He won a scholarship to Henderson State University where he played basketball and football. He graduated with a degree in business which would serve him well. In addition, he was of the Methodist faith and a veteran of the United States Army. He was an entrepreneur at heart and in the early 70s opened Allen's Freeze King. After many years of sacrifice, hard work, and dedication; he was able to open another company. In 1973, he opened City Sign and Neon Company in Camden, Ark. In the mid 80s the business had been so successful that he expanded the business and moved to Hot Springs. Allen was a gifted salesman and businessman who had customers statewide and provided exceptional customer service. If Allen cared about something, there was only one way he expressed it, totally committed. He was committed to his business and customers but he gave new meaning to the word sports enthusiast, especially when it came to his children. From early on, he sponsored and coached their teams prior to junior and senior high school. He dreamed big for his children, as he had for himself many years earlier. Allen was passionate about his love for his two sons and daughter. He would light up when he talked about them and their accomplishments. His children and their friends were the way to Allen's heart, and in his later years, his grandchildren. Allen leaves his family with the knowledge that he loved them greatly. Survivors include his three children, Daniel Fuller Smith (Jennifer) of Little Rock, Ark., Cassie Hurtado (A.J.) of Little Rock, Ark., and Cole Mitchel (Brandy) of Rogers, Ark.; two sisters, Lurlene Bates of Marianna, Ark., and Doris Hope (Bob) of St. Louis, Mo.; two brothers, Zollie Mitchel (Amy) of Sacramento, Calif., and Don Mitchell (Kathy) of Emmit, Ark.; and six grandchildren, Caroline and Camille Smith, Zack Overton, Sam and Jake Hurtado all of Little Rock, Ark., and Kinsley Mitchel of Rogers, Ark. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at Lake Valley Community Church, 910 Shady Grove Rd, Hot Springs, Ark., 71901. A visitation will be held on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Gross Funeral Home, 120 Wrights St., Hot Springs, Ark., 501-624-1244. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice House, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762. The family would like to thank all of the staff at Springdale Health and Rehab and the Earlene Howard Hospice House for the care and love they gave their father.