Donald Eugene Mills

Donald Eugene Mills, 84, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2014, at the Boise VA Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was born November 23, 1929, in Fallon, Nevada to Annie (King) Mills and Wayne Mills. He attended schools in Fallon, Nevada, graduating in 1947.

He was inducted into the Air Force where he spent the next four years as a sergeant in the military police at Upper Heyford, England, Sculthorpe, England and the Azores Islands. After being honorably discharged, he joined the Fallon Police Department. Five years later in 1960, he was appointed Chief of Police. He retired as chief in 1979. While working on the police department, he joined the Fallon Volunteer Fire Department and served there for 19 years, retiring as one of the assistant chiefs.

In 1975, Don married Carol McDaniel in Gardnerville, Nevada. They moved to Summerville, Oregon, in 1983 to raise sheep, to Weston, Oregon, in 1992, and finally to Adams, Oregon, in 2007.

Don is survived by his wife Carol; sister Waynette deBraga (Bob) of Corning, California; brother Bob Mills (Bev) of Los Molinos, California; daughters Kim Glover (Tony) of Weston, Suzi Countryman (JD) of Fallon, Nevada, and Debbie Sanders (Bill) of Torrey, Utah; seven grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A daughter Stacey, son Robert (Bob) and two sisters, Gloria and Marjorie, preceded him in death.

Don will be remembered for his great sense of humor and love for family. He hunted deer and birds with his brother and father until he swapped out his rifle and shotguns for cameras. He enjoyed photography, watercolor painting, drawing, building black powder rifles and working in his garden. Family campouts were always high on his list of favorites. Don was a Jack of all trades, could repair almost anything, built two homes, two barns and many outbuildings. During his lifetime he overhauled aircraft engines, was a ranch hand, policeman, fireman, raised sheep, horses and dairy cows.

Services and remembrance will be at Weston Cemetery on Monday, February 10, 2014, at 2 p.m. Sign the online condolence book at www.burnsmortuary.com. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton, Oregon, is in care of arrangements.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.