Roy Mills
January 26, 1922 - October 2, 2013
Obituary
Born on January 26, 1922, Roy passed away October 2, 2013, in Seattle at the age of 91. He was born to Leslie and Ernest Mills in El Dorado, Arkansas, one of six brothers and sisters.
Roy joined the Army at Camp Robinson, Arkansas during World War II at the age of 17. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant / Platoon Leader. Among his many awards were Five Bronze Stars for battles in France, Normandy Beach, Ardennes, Central Europe and the Rhineland; a Good Conduct Medal; three Overseas Bars; and a Lapel Button awarded for service in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
After receiving an Honorable Discharge, Roy went to Yakima, Washington as a driver of heavy trucks. Later he joined the Merchant Marines sailing on the transport ship USS General Patrick from Seattle to the Far East.
Roy’s Seattle employment included Prim Laundry as Chief Engineer and was a valued member of International Union of Engineers Local #286 for 32 years. While at the Port of Seattle he achieved the position of Operations Engineer where he earned the Service Award for his 45 years of distinguished service.
Roy had a passion for Gardening, Golf, Collecting Miniature Cars, World Travel, Entertaining, the Blues, and Dancing. He was active in social organizations including the Mr. And Mrs. Club, the Circle-Lets, and the Social-Lites.
Roy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lois J. Mills, his son McQuester Hooks; son and daughter-in-law Lynn and Pamela Hooks; son Gregory Hooks; and son and daughter-in-law Ronald and Jennifer Mills; and many grand and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sons Roy Lee Mills and Larry Mills; and all of his siblings.
We are honored to have known such a kind and caring man, and we will always remember his beautiful smile. Gone but forever in our hearts. Love to the family always.
Roy may be gone but not forgotten.
He has been called Home where there is no more pain and no more sorrows.
He will missed but always in our harts, especialy that Million Dollar smile of his.
May the Family be continually Blessed and Comforted.
I attended Roy’s service yesterday. It was very moving. Roy worked at the family business Prim Laundry when I was young. Roy was my hero because of his great attitude in life. I learned a lot from Roy that helped frame my life. “Attitude is Life”. To this day I tell stories about Roy beginning as a washman and working his way up to become our chief engineer and while doing this he was buying real estate. Roy reluctantly left the family business in the early 70’s after our father sold most of the business. And since every time I was at Sea Tac I thought of Roy. Fortunately one day not that many years ago I ran into Roy wearing his uniform. We hugged and had very nice chat. He was a great man that will never be forgotten.
It sounds as though Roy was a great American. I’m sure God has said about Roy, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
May God’s peace and grace shower down upon your family.
The Loss of a Friend, Roy Mills!
As we, Shirley and I, reflect back on our time together, we will cherish the many lessons you and Lois taught us through a demonstrative life.
We strive to mirror the examples you so willingly shared: loving unconditionally; the effort and fortitude needed to be successful in life; unselfishness in helping others achieve their own level of success; living the true meaning of mentoring; and how you and Lois mirrored what loving each other looked like.
As Robert Southey so eloquently states “The loss of a friend is like that of a limb; time may heal the anguish of the wound, but the loss cannot be repaired”.
Unwavering love for Lois and the family, forever your friends.
Vernice and Shirley Haddix