Gary Donavan Mitchell is the fourth of eight children born to Don and Katherine Mitchell.  He was born in Muskegon, Michigan on May 3, 1938. In 1961, he married Minnie Davis. They have three children and six grandchildren. Gary graduated from Benton Harbor High School and served in the United States Air Force.  He had a successful career as a law enforcement officer with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department prior to joining the Michigan State Police force. He retired from the department on May 18, 1996. He died peacefully at home on May 31, 2006.