Carolyn Mitchell Obituary

Carolyn (Tice) Mitchell, age 73, passed away July 5, 2025, in Odessa, TX.

Carolyn was born in El Paso, TX on December 7, 1951, to the late James (Bill) and Dee (Carter) Tice and was a graduate of Ysleta High School. After high school, she attended University of Mary Hardin-Baylor where she was an accomplished pianist, like her mother. While in college, she was chosen to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Fort Worth, launching a decades long career with Guy Rex and Associates of El Paso as a Production Manager for Miss USA Pageants in Texas and California. She received a Regional Emmy for the Miss Texas Pageant and was afforded the opportunity to travel the world with the Miss Universe organization. Following this chapter of her life, Carolyn earned her master’s degree from University of Texas at El Paso and went on to teach at El Paso Community College until she took a position at UTEP teaching Advertising in the Communications Department. Carolyn’s ambition was driven by her students’ success and she led a team of students to win a Collegiate Advertising competition. While at UTEP she was recognized as an Outstanding Educator in the University of Texas System and was the only academic selected for membership in the El Paso Advertising Hall of Fame.

When Carolyn wasn’t working, she loved spending time in Ruidoso, NM, watching any and all sporting events, and enjoying dinner and a glass of wine with good friends.

Carolyn is survived by her brother, Jay Tice of Fort Worth; her niece, Amber (Bryan) Cancel and children, Gabrielle and Alexander Cancel of Mansfield, TX, her aunt Joanne (Ron) Davis of Durango, CO, cousins JoBeth Tice-McLeod and Jane Tice-Kriegel and Lucy, her beloved Shih Tsu. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Dee Tice and loving partner Jim Fletcher. 

She will be laid to rest on July 14, 2025, at 11:00 am, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Pecos, TX