Raymond Vaughn Mitchell Jr.

SOUTH PORTLAND – Raymond Vaughn Mitchell Jr., 94, better known by family and friends as “Bumps” or Bumpy”, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 20, 2025.

Born in Portland on May 2, 1931, Bumps was the youngest child and only son of Elsie Farrar Plummer and Raymond V. Mitchell, Sr.

He was predeceased by his parents; sisters Olive Mae Mitchell Barnes, Harriet Farrar Mitchell Hawkes, and Mildred Alice Mitchell Crocker; and granddaughter, Allison Ishihara.

Bumps was a longtime resident of South Portland where he attended school and was a member of the South Portland High School class of 1949. He began his career in the U.S. Marine Corps, and then worked several jobs with Sealtest and Deering Ice Cream, Railway Express, St.

Johnsbury Trucking and Cole’s Express. He always wanted to become an electrician, and began the trade with Caron & Waltz. It was there that he earned his master electrician license, and retired after 18 years as an Electrical Inspector for the State of Maine and an adjunct instructor at Southern Maine Technical College. He was proud to keep his electrician’s license current (pun intended) until he was in his 90s.

He was an avid and award-winning, blue-ribbon gardener, and a talented, meticulous woodworker. He could often be found fixing or creating in his workshop, and seeing the potential in any material, he never wasted a thing. A collector at heart, Bumps also loved to collect “stuff.”

His most treasured source of happiness was always his family. He enjoyed praying daily for each member by name. A man of deep faith, Bumps was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served faithfully in many positions and capacities over the years. He was generous with his time and talents, and supported several charitable organizations throughout his life.

Bumps is survived by his wife of nearly 75 years, Madelyn Joyce (Hall) Mitchell; his children, Nancy Albertsen (Mark) of Bountiful, Utah, Leonard Mitchell (Deborah) of Taylor, Texas, Heidi Pratt (Scott) of Gorham, Rebecca Billin (Michael) of Meredith, N.H., and Michael Mitchell (Jennifer) of Gorham; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services to celebrate Bumps’s life will be held on June 3, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 29 Ocean House Rd., Cape Elizabeth.