John R. Mills, age 97, Clinton, Missouri, formerly of Butler, Missouri, passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at the home of his son, David. John was born near Mayesburg, Missouri in the Northeast part of Bates County. He moved to Butler with his family in 1925 where he married Mary Isabelle Lester in January of 1940 and raised four sons. He has resided in Clinton for the past four years. Visitation will be Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel from 7:00-8:30 pm. Family will also receive friends from 12:30-2:00 pm Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Butler Christian Church, Butler, Missouri with services to follow at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler. Family suggests memorials to the Boy Scout Troop 237 renovation project which may be left in the care of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, 314 West Jefferson St, Clinton, Missouri. Fond memories may be left at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com
John was the longest active member of the Butler Christian Church, joining March 31, 1942. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy from 1944-1946 at the Fleet Post Office in San Francisco, California. He served as Mayor of Butler from 1986 to 1990, was a member of the Butler Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, served on the Senior Citizen’s Taxi committee, and served as president of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association. He also was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 237 and made 14 yearly trips to Osceola Scout Camp with this troop. In 1967 he was bestowed the highest volunteer honor of Boy Scouting, the Silver Beaver. He worked for the United States Postal Service for thirty three years starting as a foot route carrier and working his way to Assistant Postmaster.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Riley and Eula M. Stayton Mills, his wife, Mary Isabelle Mills, and one brother, Robert Leroy Mills.
He is survived by four sons, Fred Mills and wife Sylvia of San Antonio, Texas, David Mills and wife Deb of Clinton, Missouri, Randy Mills and wife Dana of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Mark Mills and wife Janet of Columbia, Missouri, one sister in law, Celestine Mills of Prescott, Kansas, thirteen grandchildren, Jeff and wife Nicole Mills of Marietta, Georgia, Kevin and wife Shannon of San Antonio, Texas, Damon and wife Gabrielle of San Antonio, Texas, Mary Mills, Curtis Mills, Chris Mills all of Clinton, Missouri, Carey Mills of Blue Springs, Missouri, Crystal and husband Trevor Neese of North Platte, Nebraska, Jon and wife Marianne of Enid, Oklahoma, Valerie and husband Eric Dale of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Meredith and husband Greg Sampson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Jade and husband Greg Mooney of Fulton, Missouri and Jordan Mills of Columbia, Missouri, and twenty one great grandchildren.
