Oletta May Brunton Mitchell passed away on December 7, 2022, from a long battle with vascular dementia. Oletta was on hospice living with her daughter, Sonja Phillips Biggs, in Gilroy, CA where she was cared for and loved. Oletta was born October 20, 1938, in Wagner, South Dakota, to David and Eldora (Hussey) Brunton. They moved to Walla Walla, WA, where Oletta grew up when she was three years old.
Oletta graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1957. She developed some lifelong friends during her childhood and high school years in Walla Walla. Her best friend, Janlyn Webster Hall, remained her best friend all of her life. Oletta made other deep friendships along her life journey that lasted to the very end. After graduating high school, Oletta married Richard (Dick) Phillips and they had four children together: Sonja Phillips Biggs (Atom), Keith Phillips, Dale Phillips, and Karen Arnold Foster (Mark). After her divorce from Richard Phillips, Oletta married Gary Ellis and lived in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. When she divorced Gary Ellis, Oletta worked as a bookkeeper for Danielson Foods where she met George Mitchell, a truck driver delivering for United Grocer. George and Oletta were married January 18, 1982. They were both baptized at the Stateline Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Milton-Freewater, OR by Pastor LeRoy Holmes. Oletta and George moved to Boring, Oregon, where they resided for several years until their move to Veneta, Oregon. George passed away July 22, 2011. Oletta is survived by her children mentioned above and grandchildren: Brandon Biggs (Claudia), Joshua Biggs, Jennifer Arnold Lund (John), Jason Arnold, Jaryd Arnold, Shannon Phillips Meyer (Zac), and Sarah Phillips. She was looking forward to becoming a great grandmother in February. Oletta is also survived by her stepdaughters, Carol Music (Dean) and Barbara Robinson.

Oletta loved her children and grandchildren deeply. She was lovingly called Grandma Kitty by her grandchildren because of her fondness for cats. Oletta also loved to feed the birds and squirrels and watch them when they came to eat. Oletta loved watching movies and reading mystery novels. She loved to tole paint and often sold her work. She also crocheted blankets for her grandchildren. Oletta really loved Christmas and sometimes kept her home decorated all year long. It became a special time for her children and grandchildren, as well. In her last year, Oletta enjoyed music, watching Hallmark movies, doing puzzles with others, and adult coloring with her daughter and caregivers. She also enjoyed receiving flowers and visits from her children and grandchildren.

Oletta's memorial service will be held Sunday, May 28, 2023, at 2:00pm at the Blue Mountain Memorial Cemetery in College Place, WA. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Oletta Mitchell to the Dementia Society of America by mail to PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or online www.DementiaSociety.org/donate . Check out Oletta's Memorial page at https://www.weremember.com/oletta-may-brunton-phillips/5i5a/memories .