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MILLS -- Vernon Riley Mills, 88, died Monday, January 26, 2004, at his home at the Woodmark Uptown in Albuquerque after battling Parkinson's for 13 years. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Rosa Mills; his wife, Lorene; two brothers, Charles and Bill, two sisters, Edith Norris and Lucille Lancaster. Vernon was born in Curry County, New Mexico, October 25, 1915. He graduated from Ranchvale High School in 1935. He earned his BA from Eastern New Mexico University in 1945 and his masters from Colorado Northern University in 1954. He began a career in administration in 1937 as a teaching principal at Claude, NM where he met Lorene Hartley. They were married November 30, 1939. He went on to become an elementary principal in Portales. He then moved to Artesia where he was an elementary principal for one year, assistant superintendent for six years and superintendent of Artesia Public Schools for eleven years. He then moved back home to Curry County and was superintendent of Clovis Municipal Schools for eight years, retiring in July of 1973. He continued to be active in education serving as president of the NM Retired Teachers' Association. In addition to his work in education, he served in many social and civic organizations including scouting (He received the Silver Beaver Award in 1958.); Lion's Club; and the New Mexico Conference of the Methodist Church (He received the Living Archives Award in 1992). He is survived by two sisters, Maybelle Schults of Portales and Vivian Webb of Clovis; a son, Sidney Lane Mills and wife Sylvia of Albuquerque, a daughter, Jackie Hodges and husband, Don of Clovis, a daughter, Pam Baum and husband, Jeff of Clovis, and a son, Rodney W. Mills, and wife, Susan of Lubbock, TX; seven grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren. Visitation will take place at Muffley's Funeral Home, 1430 Thornton in Clovis, Friday, January 30, 2004 from 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Services will take place Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Clovis with internment following at the Hollene Cemetery. Honorary Poll Bearers include nephews: Gary, Bobby, and Ken Lancaster; Laddie Mills, Ronald Mills, and Gerald and Jimmy Webb. Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church building fund in Clovis, NM, 1501 Sycamore 88101, or to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 W. 168th St. NY, NY 10032. A special thanks to the staff of the Woodmark at Uptown for the loving care given to both Vernon and Lorene in their final years.
        Published on: Fri January 30, 2004