Mitchell Lee Eccles

Mitchell Lee Eccles 60 - beloved husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend of Smithfield, returned to his father in heaven Thursday, April 21, 2005 after a long and courageous battle with diabetes.
Mitch was born in Monrovia California the third son of Harold Irvan and Gladys Luella Hibbard. His childhood was spent in Victorville and San Bernardino California. He graduated from Pacific High School where he had many friends. He was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served a full time church building mission in Oregon where he met and influenced many. He married Beth Lea Gotcher and they began a life together. Mitch and Beth moved to Logan Utah where they were the parents of four children. Mitch and Beth were later divorced. After five years of raising his children alone Mitch reconnected with his long time friend from San Bernardino, Vicki Lewis Hunt. They were married and Mitch added her three children to the home and continued to raise and love them. Mitch and Vicki had an incredible love for one another and through this love were incredible parents. Two families became one. The only steps were at the front door. They spent twenty years together. Mitch was the grandfather of 22. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and his grandchildren adored their grandpa. Mitch loved his Vicki and his family more than anything. They enjoyed many great family outings together. Being together as a family brought Mitch his greatest joy. Mitch was an accomplished accordion player from youth and had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved being outdoors, enjoyed wood working and tinkering on cars. Mitch was an incredible man with a heart of pure gold. He befriended so many and everyone he met was a lifelong friend. Mitch battled with Diabetes for over twenty-five years. Grandpa is now in heaven where he is out of pain. We love him and miss him so very much. He will be in our hearts forever.
Mitch is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Vicki; two brothers; Lenard Judy Eccles of Tacoma Washington, Bruce Cheryl Eccles of Richfield Utah, seven children; Ruth Harry Wimmer of Hyde Park, Heidi Wendell Weeks of Clifton Idaho, Henry Eccles of Tempe Arizona, Jeffrey Hunt, Jeremy Gloria Hunt, Kristi Hunt of Smithfield, Wayne Christal Eccles of Marysville Washington; twenty-two grandchildren two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Gladys Eccles.
Services to honor Mitch will be held Wednesday, April 27 at the Smithfield 4th Ward 155 W 400 N. at 11:00am. Friends and family may call at a viewing to be held Tuesday evening at the Smithfield Nelson Funeral Home 85 S Main from 6 to 8:00 pm and again at the church on Wednesday morning prior to the services from 10 to 10:45am. His interment will be in the Smithfield City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com