Dec. 2, 1933 – March 12, 2023
Janice Lee Mills of Dexter, Ore., passed away from natural causes on March 12, 2023. She was 89. Janice, known by most as Jan, was born Dec. 2, 1933, in Oregon City to parents Virgil and Violet Gill (Solomon).
Two brothers, Frank and Dean, also were born to the family, which lived in Government Camp near Mt. Hood before moving to Timber and later Elkton. Later they were joined by brother Daryl Bullock after Violet’s marriage to George Bullock.
Jan attended Elkton High School before marrying Stacy “Doug” Fenley on Dec. 22, 1950, in Elkton. The couple separated 12 years later, after which Jan moved with her five children to attend Oregon College of Education in Monmouth. She married William Wesley Mills in August of 1964 in Stevenson, Wash.
Jan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from OCE. Soon after she earned a master’s, also in education, from Oregon State University in Corvallis. She went on to become a career educator in health and general education at Cascade Middle School in Eugene.
Jan was an avid outdoorswoman with passions for wilderness hikes and hunting. Other hobbies included writing, play writing, antique shopping and selling, theater, clogging, RVing, playing cards, and travel.
After retirement Jan lived in Richland, Ore., as well as Elkton before moving to Yuma, Ariz. She spent her final years in Lane County, and was a resident at Shalom Cottage in Springfield upon her passing.
Jan is survived by sons Scott (June), Kelly (Holly) and Randy (Dana) Fenley; daughter Angela (Doug) Hooley; step-daughter Patti Sanchez; and brother Dean (Nettie).
She was preceded in death by husband William “Bill” Mills; son Brad Fenley; step-children Vicki and Billy Mills; and brothers Frank Gill and Daryl Bullock.
Jan also is survived by 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Interment was at Kellogg Cemetery near Elkton. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium.
