Gerald Lee Mills, 73, returned to his Heavenly Father on Thursday, March 28, 2019.
Gerald was born to Roy and Melba (Wilstead) Mills in Price, Utah on May 27, 1945. Gerald spent his early years in Castle Gate. The family moved to Spring Glen where he attended Helper Junior High and Carbon High school just as all of his children did. Throughout his youth, Gerald enjoyed school sports and excelled in both basketball and baseball. He also had a deep devotion and love for music and entertaining. In the early 60’s, you could usually find Gerald with his band, The Golden Notes playing at countless venues all over the state. Gerald could sing, play the guitar and the piano and was extremely proud of it. We’re sure that most of Gerald’s childrens’ childhood friends will remember his humor as he asked “Do you want to hear me play the piano” each and every time they entered the home.
On January 14, 1967, Gerald married the love of his life in Las Vegas, Nevada after a short courtship. Over the next 52 years as new friends came and went and as old friends grew and flourished, Gerald & Sherri became not only best friends but soul mates that will last for time and eternity.
Gerald was a member of the Utah National Guard and as the Mills family grew to include 3 beautiful children, Gerald was busy building his career as a payroll clerk at Spring Canyon Mine, then Castle Gate mine and eventually as Plant Manager of Koret of California in Price until its closure in 1998. Gerald had so many fond memories of these years and made so many lifelong friends.
Gerald was an avid outdoorsman who taught his children everything they know about hunting, fishing and camping. He had a passion for and became very good at catching large lake trout at Flaming Gorge. He and his boys and friends spent countless hours hunting deer, elk and pheasants and created a world of memories along the way.
Gerald began as a wonderful loving son and brother, then became a devoted husband who never missed a day or a moment to tell his wife how beautiful she was, how loved she was, how respected she was and possibly the most important of all, he became a father and grandfather who would happily give his last breath for each and every one of them. To these children, he became somewhat of a hero, a man above other men, a role model to follow, and a trusted friend. The hole that will be left in our family’s hearts will never be filled. He leaves behind his loving wife of 52 years, Sherri Mills, their children, Guy & Chanda Mills of Price, Rod & Nancy Mills of Wellington, Nicole & Mark Ivie of Pennsylvania, his sister Callie (Bruce) Larsen of Salt Lake City, 17 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Roy Lynn Mills Heuser and grandson, Chet (Bodie) Goodrich.
Funeral service, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, 11:00 a.m., Helper Stake Center (150 Ridgeway Street) in Helper. Family will receive friends at Mitchell Funeral Home Monday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and at the Stake Center Tuesday one hour prior to service. Interment, Mt. View Cemetery, Helper. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Gerald online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.