James Harold Mizell, 80, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center at Mercy Health Lourdes. He was born on January 29, 1945, at Fisher Hospital in Metropolis, Illinois, to the late Oscar “Red” Mizell and the late Virginia Stephens Mizell.
Jim graduated from Metropolis Community High School in 1963, where he enjoyed playing football. He attended Paducah Junior College for two years and earned an Associate of Arts Degree. He then attended Murray State University before enlisting in the Army. During his three years in the Army, he spent thirteen months in South Korea and the remainder of that time at Ft. Hood, Texas. He returned to Murray State to finish his undergraduate degree in education. He later earned advanced degrees from Murray.
Jim began his history teaching career and became a beloved figure in the halls of Lone Oak High School for decades. The stories of the antics in his classroom are numerous and always bring a smile. You knew he truly cared if you were lucky enough to hear him yell your name in the hall between classes. His booming voice always commanded attention, even if you couldn’t always understand the words he was saying. In his 37 years of teaching, he touched countless lives and will be remembered fondly by so many.
Along with teaching, his other passions were coaching football and baseball at Lone Oak. He embodied the true spirit of what it meant to be a Lone Oak Purple Flash. He assisted many football coaches over the years and even suffered a broken ankle after one especially tough day on the blocking sled. On the baseball field, he became a true Kentucky legend, winning 594 games in his 36-year tenure. This record made him the 19th-winningest coach in KHSAA history. His teams reached seven first-region championship games, winning it in 1987. He was fortunate to have dedicated booster programs over the years and was especially proud of how they made it possible for the Lone Oak field to be one of the first to have lights for night games. He had the privilege of coaching his two youngest sons on his teams when they were in high school. He spent many hours caring for that field, and in 1996, the Lone Oak baseball field was renamed Mizell Field in his honor. He was inducted into the Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999. He proudly wore that ring the rest of his life.
During his summer breaks, he worked moving furniture, painting, and managing the Noble Park Pool with many other local teachers and coaches. And in between football and baseball seasons, he refereed middle school and high school basketball. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting with former students and close friends.
After he retired from education, Jim began a second career as a charter bus driver with Anchor Transportation. He enjoyed seeing the country and meeting new people. But his favorite part of that job was driving the Murray State Athletic teams to their games. He loved sporting his Murray State swag and bragging about the players and coaches he knew.
Jim was a member of Lone Oak Church of Christ. In his later years, when he could no longer drive a charter bus, he enjoyed meeting his friends at Lone Oak Little Castle for breakfast.
The family would like to thank the Mercy Regional EMS responders and Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital ER team for their life-saving efforts. They would also like to thank the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Team for their compassion and gentle care during such a difficult time.
Jim is survived by his wife, Pamela Sue McClanahan Mizell; daughter, Deanna Coovert Harper and husband, Brian of Calvert City, Kentucky; son, Scott Coovert of Paducah, Kentucky; son, James “Bucky” Mizell and wife, Jamie Dorris Mizell of Nashville, Tennessee; son, Jon Mizell of Paducah, Kentucky; granddaughter, Mackenzie Harper Wilson and husband, Johnathan Wilson of Benton, Kentucky; grandson, Weston Harper and fiancée, Kate Cansler of Benton, Kentucky; grandsons, Robert Mizell and Brooks Mizell of Nashville, Tennessee; sister, Judy Mizell Nickles and husband, Larry Nickles of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; and niece, Lynn Nickles Curry and husband, Jeff Curry of Normal, Illinois.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Paducah from 4-7 pm.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Lone Oak Church of Christ at 11:00 am with Paul Wingfield officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to: New Pathways for Children, 3233 Shaw Road, Melber, KY 42069.
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