|
Roger Dwayne Mills
Anchorage resident Roger Dwayne Mills, or "De'Northern Yard," as his brother
called him, died suddenly March 7, 2010, while at work on the North Slope.
Roger's life was celebrated March 16, 2010, at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary in Grand
Junction, Colo. Denver Broncos attire was observed. A graveside service with
full military honors was held at Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Grand Junction.
Roger was born on July 7, 1962, in Grand Junction. His childhood was filled with
many camping trips all over Colorado and the surrounding states. He spent many
summers with his dad, Rod Mills, in Alaska, where he worked in a fish cannery
and as a cook on a fishing boat.
Roger graduated in 1981 from Fruita Monument High School, where he was a
pioneering member of the first high school soccer team in the Grand Valley. He
attended Mesa College in Grand Junction, graduating with a degree in law
enforcement.
After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving at Fort Wainwright with
the 472nd MP Company as the base fish and game warden until 1989. After his
honorable discharge from the Army, Roger obtained a position in security during
the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which lead to his position with Doyon Universal for
Alyeska Pipeline, Pump House 6 YRB on the Yukon River. For more than 20 years,
Roger worked with pipeline security.
Roger married Crystal Smith in 1983 and Margo Pugh in 1994; both marriages later
ended in divorce.
Roger was a strong man with a cute and unique sense of humor. He was always
ready to lend a helping hand to organize and orchestrate fun. His greatest loves
were his children, family and friends. He made frequent trips to Colorado to be
with family and friends there. This devoted Broncos fan had numerous interests
and hobbies including fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, gardening, cooking,
barbecues, eating, DDO and keeping the boys away from his 15-year-old daughter,
Chelsy. There are many memories of Roger throughout his life's journey, building
secret forts, catching frogs, Christmas on the Mesa, building audacious tube
runs, camping at Silver Jack with the bouncy log, poison ivy, cliff jumping at
Lake Powell, and running his airboat into a sandbar while fishing on the Placer
River. Roger's passions and dreams will live on in the family and friends who
love him. He is deeply missed.
He is survived by his son, Ronald Mills of Fort Morgan, Colo.; and daughter,
Chelsy Mills of Mesa, Colo.; parents, Lois and Delbert McClure of Mesa and
Rodney and Barbie Mills of Colville, Wash.; brothers, Ricky Mills, Danny
McClure, Greg McClure and Gary Pearcy; and sisters, Vicky (Tim) Hayden, Laura
(Dustin) Riddle and Carlie Pound.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Roger Mills' Children Education Fund,
in care of Grand Junction Federal Credit Union, 910 Main St., Grand Junction, CO
81501.
Source: Anchorage Daily News, 10 April
2010
|
