Rosa M. Mitchell

Rosa Marie Rubrecht Mitchell was born August 29, 1931 in Gainesville, Texas to Ruby Lorraine Cunningham Rubrecht and Johna Rubrecht. Her love of art began at an early age and she landed her first job as an artist at 13 years old as a photographic colorist at her aunt’s studio. Rosa continued this craft by painting for three studios while studying fine art at The University of Texas at Austin. There she met her future husband Raymond Lloyd (Mitch) Mitchell. They married at her mother’s house in Gainesville on Sept. 8, 1949. Rosa quit her formal studies to help put Mitch through college.

When Mitch was discharged after serving in the Korean War, they settled in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area where they raised their young daughters Connie and Cathy. The family were active members at St. James Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, and later at St. Phillips Presbyterian Church in Hurst. Rosa’s talent was tapped frequently for various church programs. Although Rosa put her career on hold to raise her young girls, she continued to attend watercolor workshops and visit countless galleries. When she was able to continue her art studies and expanded her artwork, she became known not only as a watercolorist but also as an accomplished sculptor. After winning two first place awards in juried exhibitions for “Corner Grocery” a watercolor, and a sculpture, “Sad Fellow Laughing”, she earned the astute honor of being awarded a one-person show at Mule Alley Art Center in Fort Worth, TX. Rosa was a signature member of the Southwestern Watercolor Society and the Texas Watercolor Society, producing many awardwinning paintings.

After Mitch’s retirement and move to San Marcos in 1985 Rosa’s career really took off. Rosa and Mitch traveled both in the states and abroad, and often the trips included “paint-outs” and workshops. Art trips to Mexico and Guatemala were extra special to her. Among Rosa’s best works were some of her series which included the quilt series honoring quilt makers from both sides of the family and living in the Hill Country inspired a series of wildflower paintings which were in great demand. She was represented by four galleries and was the top selling artist at Austin’s Spicewood Gallery. Beginning in 1990 and continuing for 14 years, Rosa produced pen and ink Christmas cards for Cochrane Technologies in Lafayette, LA. She immensely enjoyed traveling to the Acadiana area to research the cards’ subject matter. In 1997, she participated in the “Shared Experience” project which focused on painting various aspects of village life on both sides of the US/Mexico border. The paintings were displayed in a traveling exhibition in both Mexico and Texas. Rosas’s last major award was for the much admired “Homework” watercolor in the Southwestern Watercolor Society’s large juried show in Dallas in 2011. She was 79 and won 1st place.

Memberships in the area art groups included the Waterloo Watercolor Group, San Antonio Watercolor Group, the New Braunfels Art League, and her beloved Brushstrokes “Critique” group of professional talented women from the San Antonio area. Rosa’s love of art was only surpassed by her fierce love for her family and for everything life had to offer. Besides art, favorite hobbies included photography, music, dancing, reading, travel and “tubing the river.”

Rosa is survived by her children Connie Boyles of Dripping Springs, Texas; Cathy Beard and husband Steve of Dripping Springs; Grandchildren Thomas Boyles and wife Katlyn, of Ft. Collins, Colo.; Colin Boyles and wife Katherine, of New Braunfels, Texas; Miranda Beard of Austin, Texas; great-grandchildren Joanna and Samantha; brother John D. “J.” Rubrecht and wife Wanda of Plano, Texas; half-brother August Rubrecht (wife Lois); half-sister Frances Rubrecht DeHart (husband Dave) ; half-sister Dawn Rubrecht Beemer (husband Rod); half sister-in-law Lucille Rubrecht, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is predeceased by her granddaughter Megan, her husband Mitch, and siblings, Geneva, James, Betty, Esther, and Paul.

Memorial service plans are pending. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rett Syndrome Organization at rettsyndrome. org or by supporting the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists at mfpausa.com.

Services will be scheduled for a future date and will be under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home. For more information and to sign the online registry, please visit thomasonfuneralhome.com.