Willard Everett Mills

Willard E. Mills, age 89, of Moran, Kansas, passed away at his home on December 23, 2010. Willard was born May 18, 1921 at Alexander, Kansas, the son of Raymond Guy and Lydia Louella (Miller) Mills on a farm near Alexander, Kansas. He graduated from McCracken High School in 1939 and worked for area farmers before he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in Pueblo, Colorado, in June of 1942. During the next year, he trained in radio, radar, and diesel mechanics in Missouri, Florida, Texas, and California before being sent to Alaska for two years where he served in Anchorage and Shemya. Willard received an Honorable Discharge from the 2528th Army Air Forces Base Unit in Amarillo, Texas, on October 31, 1945, after receiving the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, the American Theatre Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and four Overseas Service Bars. Following his military service, he managed the McCracken Farmers' Coop grain elevator which his grandfather had helped establish in 1916 or 1917. Willard married Mildred Glee Temple, daughter of Basil and Esda Temple of McCracken, on January 7, 1947. This union was blessed with four children: James Robert, Linda Marlene, Peggy Jo, and David Lee. In 1951 Willard purchased a farm southeast of Moran, moved his family here, and began farming his own land. Along with farming, he worked as a carpenter while building beef and dairy herds. He retired from the dairy in the 1980's but continued to farm and kept the beef herd until about a year ago. Willard was baptized in McCracken in 1939. He later became a member of the Elsmore Methodist Church where he was a trustee and a Sunday School teacher. He helped build and maintain the current building. He served on the Elsmore Grade School Board, was a member of the Gideon's Society, and helped distribute Bibles on several campuses. He dearly loved his family and friends and enjoyed being a part of Happy Antiques, the Savonburg Senior Citizens group, and the local Community Club. Willard was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Raymond, Cecil, and Leonard. He is survived by his widow, Mildred, of the home; two sons, James Mills and wife Susan of Arkansas City, and David Mills and wife Brenda of Elsmore; two daughters, Linda Shirk and husband Fred of Lawrence, and Peggy Bacon and husband Wesley of Chillicothe, MO; 16 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren; one brother, Kenneth Mills and wife Opal Jean of Auburn, CA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, December 27, 2010 at the Elsmore Methodist Church with Pastor Connie Cox and Pastor David Brundage, Willard's grandson, officiating. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery. Willard will lie in state at the funeral home in Moran on Sunday from 12:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice Care of Kansas or the Elsmore Methodist Church and sent in care of the funeral home.