Ray O. Mills

Ray O. Mills April 22, 1924 – October 17, 2006 Ray O. Mills passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2006 in Tyler, Texas. Services will be at 1:30 pm Saturday, October 21 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with Rev. Van Vowell and Shawn Corzine officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial North Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 8:00 pm Friday, October 20 at the funeral home, 6101 Bosque. Ray was born April 22, 1924 to Hugh Mills and Ollie Boyd Mills in Belton, Texas. He attended school in Bruceville-Eddy. He went to work early in life and helped to support the family farm. During World War II he served in the United States Army from February 1943 to April 1946 and was a member of the 740th Tank Battalion. He married Evelyn Maxine Taylor on August 13, 1947. They remained married until her death on March 21, 1993. He was a truck driver his entire life and worked for Gulf Oil, Mrs. Bairds, Krafcor Inc. and Central Texas Corrugated. He attended First Baptist Church of Woodway and Grace Temple Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. For the past year he attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Tyler where he was loved and cherished by everyone. His love for the Lord and his strong faith is what held him through his final days. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 55 years; two brothers, Edgar Mills and Melvin Mills; and three sisters, Annie Mae Phillips, Ruby Cousins and Bessie Wilkins. He is survived by one sister, Ruth Hinson of Waco; a daughter, Karen M. Lipsey and husband, Billy of Mart; a son, Michael R. Mills and wife, Lori of Tyler; grandsons, Trenton R. Mills and Cody P. Mills of Tyler. Pallbearers will be Larry Lathern, W.D. Motley, Buck Wheat, Charlie Matthews, Bob Unger and Raymond Maxwell. Honorary pallbearer will be Gene Havis. The family wishes to thank Pinecrest Nursing & Rehab Center in Tyler for their care and support. Memorial donations may be made to Grace Temple Baptist Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey