“Old storytellers never die. They disappear into their own story.”
-Vera Nazarian, author
On October 8th, at the age of 79, Judd Everett Mills passed into his own story after a short illness.
Judd’s story began right here in Sandy, Oregon. The son of Jerome Edison Mills and Dorothy Aschoff Mills, he attended Sandy Elementary School and graduated from Sandy High School in 1959. In 1966 he made the incredibly wise decision to marry Dorothy Proett, and their story continued together. Judd was happiest at home and, with the exception of his years in the military, he lived in the Sandy area his entire life. Judd and Dorothy lived the majority of their 54 years together on an acreage on Firwood Rd, raising three children there.
Judd devoted his life to working with children. He used his creative and entertaining skills as an elementary teacher in Gresham, a children’s librarian at the Sandy Public Library, a Sunday School teacher and children’s message presenter at the Eagle Creek Presbyterian Church, and a devoted father and grandfather. He encouraged and inspired countless children along the way.
An avid reader, Judd was especially passionate about children’s books, even penning and illustrating his own stories for friends and grandchildren.
In his later years he was fond of quoting the late, great, Dr. Seuss:
“How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?”
The doctors will say that he died of heart failure, but we all know that’s not true. His heart never failed. He gave a piece of it to each of us so that we can continue to tell his story. We just wish it hadn’t gotten so late, so soon.
He will be deeply missed by his wife Dorothy, son Tony (Debra), daughters Kristin (Kelvin) and Marjorie (Brian), grandsons Alex, Evan, Ian, and JP, and a great number of neighbors and friends.
At Judd’s request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be given to the Eagle Creek Presbyterian Church, “ECPC Neighbors Helping Neighbors” fund at PO Box 487, Eagle Creek, Oregon 97022.