Earl Mitchell

Earl the Pearl

January 1940 – August 2014

Earl loved people and with his quick wit and empathy, he was able to make a new acquaintance feel like an old friend in a matter of minutes. This was his gift.

Born in Morden Manitoba to Tom and Evelyn Mitchell, Earl was the second oldest of 8 kids. At age 14, Earl got involved with Junior Chamber of Commerce and started to make his way in the business world. During those formative years, he frequently contributed his earnings to help support the family.

Earl held a junior position at Ashdowns Hardware in Winnipeg and eventually became credit manager at Mc and Mc Wholesale in Vancouver. A natural salesman, he went on to sell Life Insurance, manage Glidden Paint then entered a 30-year professional career at Pitney Bowes, winning many top Sales awards.

With a flair for photography and a keen interest in movies, Earl and his good friend, journalist / film critic Mel Tobias, teamed up to cover the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film festival in the South of France in 1997. As a follow up to that trip, Earl had a solo photo exhibition at the Yaletown gallery titled “Cannes Revisited”. He supported and promoted many Filipino musicians including good friend Linda Magno and was an active member of the Asian Theatre Community acting as Master of Ceremony for several fundraising events.

Earl will be best remembered as a completely devoted father. He suffered a devastating loss in 2005 with the death of his only son, Chris, from Hemophilia/Hep C. Earl was active in the BC Hemophilia society and served several terms as the National President of the Hemophilia Society in the 1980’s and continued to advocate for Chris until he passed at age 32.

Earl also leaves behind his daughter Michelle, who will remember her “Pop” as a supportive, dedicated and deeply caring Father, son-in-law Kevin and his beloved grandson Bowen who said this about his “Bumpah”-“I will never forget him. He always cared about what I was interested in.” He is also survived by his brothers: Gary, Hugh, Richard, Doug, Glen, John and sister Sandy.

Earl spent his last three years living in Vernon, BC close to his family. During that time Earl continued to make many more friends. He will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers Michelle requests that you pay a favour forward. Earl was known to buy lunch for a stranger or drop a fiver in a buskers case.

A celebration will be announced.