Jesse Warren “Buck” Mitchell

Published 10:03 am Thursday, March 20, 2025

Jesse Warren “Buck” Mitchell passed away on February 20, 2025, while receiving care for Lymphoma and COPD at the VA Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. A lifelong resident of the Junction City area, Buck will be missed by all.
Born in Alum Springs, KY, Buck spent his youth on Persimmon Knob. He is preceded in death by his parents, Irene Ada Warren Mitchell and Frank R. “Malcolm” Mitchell. A middle child, Buck grew up with a big sister, Betty Jane Mitchell Griffith, and a big brother, Edwin C. Mitchell; in turn, Buck was a big brother to Linda Gail Mitchell Deskins, and Larry Keland Mitchell. Larry also preceded him in death.
Buck was a vivacious kid who developed a deep appreciation for his woodland environment. Beyond identifying every plant – flowers, shrubs, trees, and mosses, he was a champion Morel hunter and could bag more squirrels with a .22 than any hunter out there. He attended Junction City Schools in Boyle County where he formed many lifelong friendships.
Buck enlisted in the United States Navy in 1963 during the Vietnam War, where he served his entire tour of duty as part of the Blue Water Navy aboard the USS Reeves DLG-24 and the USS Hollister DD-788. After basic training in San Diego, CA, he helped commission the USS Reeves DLG-24, working with the mechanical systems in the engineering room below deck. Buck was part of the initial crew that took the USS Reeves on her initial voyage out of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, into battle with the Seventh Fleet.
Buck finished his wartime tour of duty on the USS Hollister as part of Destroyer Squadron 9 in the waters off of Vietnam and in the Gulf of Tonkin. In his words, “We cleared the path for the Marines to come in.” Unbeknownst to most, Buck received the following awards and medals: Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy “E” efficiency ribbon, Navy Good Conduct, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/4 bronze stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palm, and the Vietnam Campaign medal w/ 1960 device.
After returning from the Vietnam War, Buck married Sandra Lovett and worked on the pipeline and in construction. He and Sandy had one daughter that Buck named Tabatha Jo, which he quickly replaced with Tabby Jo. He started a tree-trimming business and kept everyone stocked with firewood, Christmas trees, and mistletoe. During the warm months, he dominated the competition at the Danville-Boyle County Game Reserve, aka the Game Club. No skeet stood a chance.
He loved fast cars and it’s utterly amazing that he made it to 50; let alone 81. He loved Junction City and all of the people that make Junction – Junction. In his later years, he became a property developer, where he produced amazing gardens with naturally landscaped grounds. Over the years, Buck could be easily identified by the huge truckloads of brush or wood that he drove around town in his pick-up truck and by his collection of colorful caps. Even in his later years, Buck would scale to the very tip top of massive trees carrying a chainsaw while wearing cowboy boots. He was a master of his craft. He loved to pass his time playing cards with his friends and hanging out around town catching up with everyone.
Buck is survived by five grandkids who are the children of Tabatha Jo Mitchell and Christopher Lee Butler. Ariel Diane Butler Harris, Erie Storm Mitchell, Eliea JoLee Mitchell-Butler, Adrie Jo Mitchell-Butler, and Emerie Lee Mitchell-Butler. He was Uncle Buck to Debbie Mitchell Osborne, Karen Mitchell Wright, Deanna Mitchell, Cindy Griffith, Norman Griffith, Phillip Deskins, Waylon Mitchell, Ryan Mitchell, and Mackienzie Mitchell.
His grandchildren asked to be his pallbearers. They will be joined by David and Todd Strong, his unofficial official stepsons who are the sons of Marilyn Strong; and by Mary Beth Lovett, his sister-in-law.
His funeral will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, March 25th at Stith Funeral Home in Junction City, Ky, at 506 W. Shelby Street, Junction City, Ky. (40440), the former Junction City First Baptist Church. Jeff Finlay will conduct the service. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 24th from 3-7 pm at Stith Funeral Home in Junction City, Ky. Petty Officer Third Class Jesse Warren Mitchell will be laid to rest at Camp Nelson National Cemetery, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, March 25th with full military honors.
Memorial donations are suggested to the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children www.nopbc.org
For condolences and to share memories please visit www.stithcares.com