Grace H. Mills passed away peacefully at home on
August 4, 2024. Grace was born to Gerald and Lottie
Hawley on August 16, 1931 in Lookout, PA. She is
survived by her husband of 69 years, Charles E. Mills,
four children, nine grandchildren, and five great
grandkids. Her children are Randall (Joan) Mills,
Barbara (Jeffrey) Fancher, Douglas (Karen) Mills, and
Janice Blackaby. Grandchildren are Danielle Blackaby,
Brianna Blackaby, Nathan Mills, Nicholas Mills, Mathew
Mills, Andrew (Amanda) Fancher, Gregory (Julia)
Fancher, Ryan (Rebecca) Mills, and Brendan (Allie)
Mills. Great grandchildren are Genevieve and Charlotte
Mills, Ava and Alivia Fancher, and Jackson Fancher.
Grace grew up on her family dairy farm on Hellmers
Hill, one of 12 children. She is survived by five siblings,
Mark Hawley, Lois Kooch, Joyce Hellmers, Everett
Hawley, and Evelyn Peters. She was pre-deceased by
siblings Eleanor Keesler, Harold Hawley, Gladys
McCormick, Clayton Hawley, Lowell Hawley, and
Marion Daub. Grace was the sixth child born. She
tirelessly worked on the farm as one of the barn girls,
milking and feeding cows, chopping wood, taking care
of the chickens, proudly helping her father. She adored
her mother, both having much compassion for all and
rarely having a bad word for any person.
In addition to raising her family, Grace worked as a
Registered Nurse over a 45 year span. She graduated
from the Binghamton City Hospital School of Nursing,
Class of 1953. Her first job after graduation was at
Binghamton General, followed by her joining the
nursing staff at Callicoon Hospital. When she returned
to work after the kids were grown, she worked for Dr.
Richard Darrow in his office, as the School Nurse at
Delaware Valley Central School, and as the Nurse for
the French Woods camp several summers. Grace
finished her career in Nursing with the Grover Hermann
Hospital where she worked in the OR, ER, ICU, and as
a Floor Nurse. She also volunteered with the Boy
Scouts and the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps.
Grace had several passions after family and nursing.
Grace was well known in the community for her pie
baking, and always offered her skill to the church
U.M.W. and other events. Her family and close friends
benefitted from the crewel embroidery projects that she
meticulously worked on for many hours, fussing over
every stitch.
A memorial service with Grace’s family will be held in
the future followed by a private burial. Flowers are
gratefully declined. An apple tree or two will be planted
in Grace’s memory on family property. Hopefully these
trees produce lots of fruit from which future pies will
baked by her children, grandchildren, and following
generations. Please consider blood donation in Grace’s
memory, as donations from many strangers sustained
Grace for over a year and gave her family and friends
more time with this much loved soul.
Arrangements are by the Harrison Rasmussen Funeral
Home.
