LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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27 Mar 2024 12:26

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

James Parker Mills Sr. Dies; Related to Longtime Sitkans

Waldo Mills, Betty Mills and Jim Mills in Sitka in 1970s. (Sentinel File Photo)

The Sentinel recently learned that a descendant of a family prominent in Sitka business and civic affairs for over half a century has passed away.

James Parker Mills Sr. died at age 96 on Jan. 14, 2017 at his home in Fresno, Calif.

He was born Feb. 15, 1921, in Sitka, the son of Waldo C. and Florence G. Mills, and grandson of William Parker and Florence Edith Mills.

W.P. Mills, as he was known, had come to Sitka with his parents, William Ritchie and Maryann Cluff Mills in the 1880s.

From that time and up to the start of World War II the Mills family was prominent in Sitka social and commercial life: W.P. Mills owned the largest general store in town, developed the town’s water and electrical power systems, financed other enterprises and served on the school board and the Pioneers Home board of trustees.

Jim Mills and his parents moved to Oakland, California, in the late 1920s. He joined the U.S. Army in 1940 and served in the Pacific theater during World War II. He retired a full colonel in 1976.

After the war, he moved to Eureka, California, where he lived and raised a family. In 1998, Jim and his wife  moved to Palm Desert, California, and in 2013 he went to Fresno, California, to be cared for by  his sons. His wife of 71 years, Bertha (Betty) Jean Mills, died in 2014.

He is survived by his two sons, James Mills Jr. of Fresno and William Mills of Eagle Pass, Texas; two grandchildren, Stephanie Mayhew and Scott Mills; and four great-grandchildren.

Jim and Betty returned to Sitka several times through the years, and donated a number of items to local museums. Jim also continued his grandparents’ financial support of the Sitka Woman’s Club, which received the 1897 cottage next to the library as a gift from the W.P. Mills Company in 1951.

The family prepared an obituary for the Sentinel at the time of his passing, but it was accidentally misdirected and only now has come to the newspaper’s attention. In the obituary the family asked that memorial donations be made to the Sitka Historical Society and Museum.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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