Obituary of Betty Mills

BETTY J. MILLS Our beloved Mother and Grandmother, Betty Jean Mills, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 14, 1929, to Thomas F. and Mabel M. Autsen. She passed away on Tuesday, February 19, at Enloe Medical Center due to complications of multiple myeloma with her family at her side. She battled her illness in the same manner she lived her life; with quiet dignity and a smile. She graduated from Phoenix Union High School in Arizona in 1947. While working at Porter's Department Store in Phoenix, she met fellow employee Robert Byron Mills. They were chosen as models for the store's magazine-true love followed, and they were married on June 12, 1949. In 1962, Bob and Betty decided to find the ideal place to raise their young family of three children. Bob took off from Phoenix with a roadmap in hand and traveled to California while Betty stayed behind with the kids. When he arrived in Chico, he was absolutely certain he'd found "Home". Betty was employed at CSU, Chico, for 23 years until her retirement in 1988. For a majority of that time she was the Department Secretary for the Political Science Department. She was very masterful at keeping the entire faculty and staff in line and took great pride in her job (and the fact that her son Russell and daughter Cheryl also made careers there). Upon her retirement, she realized her dream of taking a cruise; she ad Bob cruise the Hawaiian Islands, followed later by a cruise to the Carribean. Her greatest accomplishment in life and her greatest joy was her family. Her son, Russell Mills, and his wife Leslie, and grandsons Harry Mills and Edward Mills of Chico; her daughter, Cheryl Payne, and her husband Jamie, of Durham, and grandson Colby Payne of Paradise, and grandaughters Leah Payne and Kayla Payne of Chico; and son, Brian Mills, of Chico. Her husband preceded her after 53 years of marriage in 2002. Her family wishes to thank all the wonderful people at Enloe Cancer Center (who always had a "Hi Betty!" and a smile) and the DCU at Enloe Hospital for your kindness and compassion. Betty was passionate about local causes, so please make a contribution to your favorite community program in her honor. There will be an informal visitation at Brusie's at 626 Broadway on February 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. Please join her family for an appetizer and to make a toast in her memory. There will be a family graveside service at a later date.