Frances Marie Mills' Obituary
Frances Marie Mills, also known as ”Pat" Mills, nicknamed after her Patterson maiden name, was born in Brandon, TX on August 22, 1923. She lived a long, fun life to the age of 97. She was loved by everyone, and people could not believe she was 97. Words used often to describe her were spunky, witty, hilarious, caring, selfless, always smiling, friendly, strong, reliable, and supportive. She loved her son that passed away way too soon and absolutely loved her granddaughters and great grandchildren. She had a lot of fun in her younger years. As a young woman that left her home at the age of 17 after graduation, she had a lot of different jobs and went on a lot of different adventures. She took rides in twin engine airplanes, rode on motorcycles, went dancing, and loved old movies. She even worked during the war stringing cables from the bird cage to the back of B-52 Bombers. She said when she heard that one crashed, she always hoped it wasn’t one she had worked on. She met her future husband, Paul T. Mills, when she worked at the Mandis Auto Supply in Ft. Worth. They were married January 20, 1947. They were married 52 years when he passed away December 1999. The years they were married they had fun. They had many dear friends that they dined, bowled, and traveled with. They also took vacations and visited many places all over the US. Her favorite was Las Vegas. She loved Vegas!
She only had one son, Gary Alan Mills, born April 25, 1950. She loved him to pieces and took good care of him. She was very sad when he was diagnosed at age 11 with Diabetes. She gave him the best of care and gave him a good life despite his health issues. He was married and had a baby at a very young age. Pat was always helping them with the baby and anything they needed. She was a wonderful grandma to that baby. Unfortunately, Gary passed away due to diabetic complications in 2002. That was very hard on her. Her granddaughter, Jennifer, asked her to move to Texas so that she could take care of her after that. Pat moved to Texas in 2005. She lived in a couple different retirement apartments and made many friends and was loved by everyone. Her last home was at Liberty Heights where she lived 7 years and loved it. She loved that her great granddaughter, Shelby, worked there and visited her quite often. That allowed them to get very close which was so nice! She always said what a nice place she lived in and what nice people lived and worked there. Not a day went by when Jennifer visited did she not ask about every single family member. She always checked on the grandkids and great grandkids and loved hearing what they were up to. She developed dementia the last few years of her life, but she was still sweet and kind and ornery. She contracted Covid and passed away quickly on January 2, 2021. She was ready to go to heaven and see her family and friends, and she had said that for the last 10 years. She said getting that old was not that fun!
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Florence Patterson; siblings, Clarance Patterson, Roy Patterson, Reva Jo Tekell and her husband Adron Tekell, and Claradell Vest; and son Gary Alan Mills. She leaves behind: her brother in law, Billy Vest of Hewitt, TX, her daughter in law, Carol Mills of Tulsa, OK, her granddaughter, Jennifer Wright and her husband Larry of Rockwall, TX, her granddaughter Michelle Williams and her husband Brian of Tulsa, Ok, her great grandchildren, Casey Wright and his wife Lauren of Garland, TX, Jake Wright of Rockwall, TX, Shelby Wright of Rockwall, TX, Piper Williams of Tulsa, OK, lots of nieces and nephews, and "extra adopted kids and grandkids” Carl and Patricia Long, Evan and Lindsey Bates, and their kids Cooper and Briley Bates. Her blended family loved her like their own.
In lieu of flowers, the family of Frances Mills would appreciate donations to the American Diabetic Association in her memory. That was her favorite charity. She lived with two diabetics and knew their struggles and strongly supported this organization. www.diabetes.org
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