Eloy Tafoya Mitchell, 76, of Tucumcari, NM passed away Tuesday, October 23, 2018 in Hereford, TX. Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:00 PM at the Barn Church of Hereford with Roy Puente officiating. Burial will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 2:15 PM. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford. Family and friend visitation will be Friday evening from 5:00-7:00 PM at the funeral home.

Eloy was a resident of Tucumcari, NM most of his life. He married Juanita Sandoval on December 25, 1965. Eloy was a United States Army Veteran which included two combat tours in Vietnam as an infantryman, helicopter crew chief and door gunner. He enlisted in 1962 and served in active duty service until 1965, then enlisted into the United States National Guard in 1973. He served until his retirement in 1989. Eloy worked as a Transportation Inspector for the State of New Mexico from August 10, 1973, retiring on January 5, 2005. As a youth he was a Golden Gloves Boxer and was always a big boxing fan. Eloy graduated from the New Mexico State Police Academy in 1988. He had the dubious honor of being much older than the other members of his class at the academy – yet against unsurmountable odds graduated at the age of 46. Eloy enjoyed hunting and reading—and, in fact, he read the Bible many times and could recite it as well. His greatest love on this earth was his family; he was committed to loving them, protecting and providing for them. Eloy was his wife's primary caregiver for many years.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife Juanita Mitchell of Clovis, NM.; five sons James Mitchell and his wife Cori of Littleton, CO; Vincent Mitchell and his wife April of Aztec, NM; Thomas Mitchell and his wife Patricia of Alzey, Germany; Samuel Mitchell and his fiancé Deborah Pauley of Ft. Worth; and Jon Chang and his wife Jen of Chino Hills, CA; and one daughter Carol Gillean of Clovis, NM; six sisters Ramona Escalante of Plainview, TX; Erma Hernandez of Hereford; Carmen Vera of Plainview; Margaret Mitchell of Albuquerque, NM; Pasquala Martinez of Española, NM; and Victoria Sandoval and her husband Edward of Albuquerque, NM; and four brothers Lucario Mitchell of Lubbock; Benito Mitchell and his wife Ruth of Belton, TX; Hilario Mitchell and his wife Sheilia of Bakersfield, CA; and Samuel Mitchell of Mosquero, NM; fourteen grandchildren and one great grandson.

Eloy was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Carol Mitchell and three brothers Gabino, Manuel and Ernesto Mitchell.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers those who wish would consider a donation in Eloy's memory to one of his favorite charities: Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.