Donald Mills

Donald William Mills (Buck Skin Billy or Buck) 89, of Dunedin, Florida, formerly of Ashley, Michigan passed away Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Cross Terrace Nursing Home with family at his side.

A Memorial Service will be held at Ashley Wesleyan Church, Ashley, MI on October 29, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Kimmel officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 P.M. until the time of the service.

Donald was born in Gratiot County on January 23, 1927, the 4th son of Ben and Iva (Peabody) Mills, with 4 more brothers to come. He served in the Army in Japan. After the service he married Hope Joan Beach on January 29, 1949. He worked for Houghton Elevators National out of Pennsylvania. He worked all over the United States; he was a very hard working man, jack of all trades. He loved playing euchre and pinochle, always being with his children and grandchildren, never knew a stranger, and he was always willing to help anyone.

He is survived by his wife, his daughters; Karen (Richard) Kirkpatrick of Ashley, MI, Nancy Konkus of Petersburg, FL, Penny (Rick) Wood of Palm Harbor, FL, and Tami Knick of Tampa, FL, sons; Donald (Shirley) Mills Jr. of Carrol, OH, and Rodney (Ellen) Mills of Sumner, MI, 16 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren, 3 brothers; Elton (Mary) Mills of Kalamazoo, MI, Kenneth (Maxine) Mills of Clio, MI, Richard Mills of Ashley, MI, sisters in law; Sara Mills of Portland, MI, Molly Mills of St. Johns, MI, Florance Miller, Ashley, MI, Beatrice Hunt of Portland, MI, Dorothy Mysers of FL, and brother in law Stan Beach of Shitown, MI. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, parents in law Rayburn and Alice Beach, 2 grandchildren; Ronda Kirkpatrick of Ashley and Jason Mills of Carrol, OH, 4 brothers; Leon David Mills of Ithaca, Robert Mills of Portland, Ben Mills of Ashley, Irving Mills of Elsie, 8 brothers in law; Clarence Beach, Fred Beach, Don Beach of Owosso, MI, William Beach of Elsie and Junie Beach of Shitown, Larry Hurron of Owosso, Kline Miller of Lake City, Russell Hunt of Ovid, 10 sisters in law; Esther Mills of Ithaca, Vi Mills of Kalamazoo, Lila Mills of Elsie, Joan Mills of Ashley, Virginia Beach of Ovid, Opal Beach of Ovid, Luella Hurron, Juanitta Beach, Gin Beach of Owosso and Rose Raymond of Coldwater, MI and son in law Ray Knick of Florida.

Memorials may be made to the wishes of the family. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, Michigan.