John Mitchell

John Wiley Mitchell, also known as JW and Pops, was made whole as he entered heaven's gates on May 31, 2017. He was 65.

An avid outdoorsman, John Wiley had a particular love for hunting wild turkey and whitetail deer. He was a railroad engineer for CSX Railroad for more than 38 years and retired in December 2011. He loved his job and his coworkers.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years Elizabeth Carter Mitchell of Troy; a daughter and son in law, Whitney M. and Eric Jordan of Banks; a son, Cole Mitchell, and his fiancé, Bridget Angstadt of Birmingham; two grandsons, Braxton and Holden Jordan; his mother Brunese Mitchell, brother and sister in law, Wayne and Cindy Mitchell, nieces and nephews, Blakely M. and Nathan Ellis, Britton and Amanda Mitchell. He was preceded in death by his father, John Melvin Mitchell, and his grandparents.

In addition to his immediate family, John Wiley will be missed by numerous other loving family members and his beloved black lab Murphy.

A native of Troy, John Wiley traveled countless miles as a railroad engineer during his lifetime. His final destination will be on a wooded ridge in Green Hills Memorial Cemetery in Troy within earshot of a familiar train route. His celebration of life will be Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Danny Arnold and Rev. Kevin Beck sharing heartfelt accounts of John Wiley's life.

Pallbearers will be John Wiley's nephews; Britton Mitchell, Nathan Ellis, Chris Beck, Kevin Beck, Allen Maness and Hunter Mann, along with longtime friends Greg Barnette and Allen Rogers. Honorary pallbearers will be current and former employees of CSX Railroad.

Visitation will be at Green Hills Funeral Home in Troy, Friday, June 2, 5-7 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Pike County Heart Association, c/o Jim O'Neal, 219 W. College Street, Troy, Alabama 36081.