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Mills, Mildred Alice

December 24, 1923 ~ April 26, 2008

It is with profound sadness that the family of Mildred Mills (Millie) announces her passing gently in her sleep on April 26, 2008, at the age of 84 years.

Left to cherish and remember are her children (Sharon Mills of Edmonton AB, Bonnie and Larry Rockliff of Fort Lauderdale FL, Lorne Mills of Edmonton AB, Brian and Rita Mills of Calgary AB, Twila Mills of Edmonton AB, and Douglas Mills of Edmonton AB. She was also a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother to Carrie and Wade Secrist (with Jaden and Raquel), Graham Ingram, Matthew Ingram, Laura Ingram, Jennifer and Devin Kalvatis (with Ella and Reid), Cheryl Rockliff, Paula Rockliff, David Mills, Erinn Mills, Lee Mills, Kevin Mills, Adam Pez, Daniel Pez, Ryan Mills and Arden Mills. Further family members include Mildred's sisters (Lillian Parks of Nanaimo BC, Audrey Armstrong of Penticton BC, Dorothy Edworthy of North Battleford SK, Anita Mills of Fort Francis, OT) and many nieces and nephews. Along with family are many dear friends who will greatly miss her, some from Edmonton AB, and some from Qualicum Beach BC where Mildred lived for 25 of her retirement years. She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Roy Joseph Mills (1921 ~ 2001).

Millie's parents homesteaded in the Turtleford SK area during the early 1900's. She was a lively young girl who chose schooling over farming, and left home at the tender age of 14 to live with her grandmother in Glaslyn SK so she could finish her courses in accounting. She graduated with honors two years later, and started working in the local bank. When the war broke out, Millie enlisted in the Air Force. Given her training in bookkeeping, she was sent to Prince Edward Island to work at Headquarters. One afternoon in her off hours, she ran into a young man from home, now an officer and a pilot. They were married in 1945, and had 7 children, losing a daughter in 1977.

When the war ended, Millie and Roy made their home in Lloydminster SK, where Roy traded his pilot's wings for a driver's license, and together they built up a thriving trucking business, Mills Transport Ltd. In the early years, Millie would accompany Roy in the truck, often driving when he was exhausted from working. After the children started arriving, she devoted herself to being a homemaker. Her baking, flowers and knitted sweaters were famous. She also loved curling and bridge, and made many close friends who appreciated her great heart and bidding skills.

In 1965, Millie and Roy expanded their trucking company and moved their family to Edmonton. For the next decade, they continued working hard to build the business, and in 1976, they sold the company and moved to Qualicum Beach BC for their retirement years. Throughout their years in Qualicum, they formed active social lives around golf, curling, and bridge. Together, they achieved Masters Achievement playing in bridge tournaments. Although Millie always quietly gave credit to Roy, it was due to her exceptional ability to read his rather creative bidding style that truly carried the pair to victory.

After losing her husband in 2001, Millie moved to Edmonton to be amongst family. To her final days, she enjoyed watching curling and Blue Jay games on TV.

Millie's family would like to thank all her dear friends in Qualicum for bringing her joy and companionship all those retirement years.

The family plans two Memorial Services. The service in Edmonton will be at Howard & McBride Westlawn Chapel, 16310 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, on Saturday, May 10, 2008. 1:30 p.m. A grave-side service will be held in Qualicum Beach at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton AB.



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