William L. Bill Mills

William Lee “Bill” Mills On June 7, 2005 William Lee “Bill” Mills died at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center following a nine year round with cancer. Burial will be at 9:00 a.m. at Rosemound Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 10:00 a.m. at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. The services will be conducted by Reverend David Shuttlesworth. He was born February 12, 1924 in Center, Texas to Elza Elmond and Edith Brittain Mills. Upon his graduation from Center High School in 1941, Mills enrolled in Baylor University and was of the Centennial Class of 1945. Mills served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Hopkins, #13, a destroyer/minesweeper. This ship was the first one in seven of nine invasions in the South Pacific, including the invasion of Tokyo Bay. At the end of World War II, Mills returned to Baylor in 1946 where he met and later married Hazel Grace Bunn. On May 22, 1948, he and Hazel Bunn were married. He graduated in 1950 from Baylor University and became a Life Member of the Baylor Alumni Association. His interests were diverse. An avid Baylor University sports fan especially the Women’s Basketball team, he was a charter member of the Huaco Outing Club, Huaco Bowmen’s group, in which he was instrumental in obtaining a special bow season for hunting from the Texas Legislature. Mills also enjoyed backpacking, making numerous trips to the Grand Canyon where he was able to hike from rim-to rim-to rim on two separate occasions. He was also adept at wood carving, jewelry making, welding, gardening, bicycling, jogging, square and round dancing. He was a charter member of the Waco Gem and Mineral Club, and a charter member of the Waco Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. He was a member of the Baylor Singing Seniors Choir for twenty-one years. William Lee Mills was a Master Mason. He was a fifty year member of the J. H. Gurley Masonic Lodge and a member of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Additionally, he was a member of the Grand Council and Select Masters of Texas, the Grand Royal Arch Chapter and was a member of the local Commandary of Knights Templar, where he was Past Commander. He received the Golden Trowel Award in 2002 from the J. H. Gurley Lodge. Mills had worked at Alamo Steel and Machine, Boy’s Town, Inc., and later became an Independent Insurance Agent. He also served one term as president of the Independent Agents group. Mills was also a former member of the East Side Rotary. He was an active member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church for more than fifty years where he was a member of the choir. Mills also taught teenagers in Sunday School and directed a children’s Training Union. He was a visitor for First Place, a Deacon, and a charter member of the Fisherman’s Sunday school class. Honored friends are members and their spouses are the Fisherman’s Class, Fellowship of Deacons and members of the Sanctuary Choir. Mills is preceded in death by his parents, a sister and one niece. He is survived by his wife, Hazel, and his daughter, Judy and her husband, Gary Butler of Woodville, four grandchildren, Christian Michael Butler of Waco, Stewart Madison Butler of Houston, Baylor Baines Butler and his wife Hannah of Kountze, and Laurel Anne Butler of Woodville, one nephew, William David Curtis of Phoenix, Arizona, one niece, Nancy Ann Curtis Adams of Center, one grandnephew, Jonathan Statler of Center, bother and sisters in law are Dr. Milford and Martha Bunn of Waco, Bob and Wanda Moseley of San Marcos, Bob and Shirley Cunningham of Dallas and six cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial be made to the Scholarship Fund of Baylor University Singing Seniors, 340 Wild Cat Creek Road, Axtell, Texas 76624-1231 or your favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.