SHERMAN - Daniel Ervin Mills, 76, of Sherman passed away on Jan. 17, 2010 at his residence in Sherman. A private family service will be held at the West Hill Cemetery.
He was born on Dec. 22, 1933 the son of Daniel Richard and Loveta Manes Mills. 
Dan lived most of his young life in Childress, graduating from Childress High School in May 1952. He served in the Army from September 1952 until September l955. He trained at Fort Bliss in El Paso. Then served in Korea and was there when the conflict ended. He was then assigned to the Atlanta Depot in Atlanta, Ga. for the remainder of his tour.
Dan met Gale Blair from Cee Vee in May 1956. They were married on Aug. 29, 1959 in Gardena, Calif., and lived in Richmond, Calif. for a year, then returned to the southland to live 11 years in Oxnard, Calif. While there he attended Ventura College. They were married for more than 50 years.
He and his family returned to Texas in August 1971 where he worked as a scientist for J&J in Sherman for 17 years before retiring in May 1992.
Building was his hobby. He designed a house that he, Gale and the children built in the Bells community where they lived for almost 20 years. 
He enjoyed traveling and over the years, he and his wife and children and sometimes grandchildren traveled in 48 states, Canada and Mexico. 
Dan was a Boy Scout in Childress and introduced his sons to Cub Scouts while in Oxnard, Calif. He continued scouting in Sherman as a Cub Master of Crutchfield Pack 13 and Scout Master of Troop 14. The boys never missed a monthly campout and every summer he attended Camp Grayson for a week with his troop. He and his assistants, Mark Stubber and Homer Phelps, also took a group to Philmont, N.M. one summer.
A special thanks to Heart to Heart Hospice. Also, Cindy Clark, Nancy Woods, Darcel Brown and all other nurses, aides, therapists and doctors for the excellent care that was given Dan so he could remain at home with this family. 
We are grateful for the love shown by our sons and grandchildren while caring for him. Danny came each week on his day off work and Eric stayed and helped almost two years while attending college. Marty helped daily for five years. Emily, Calvin and Daren helped as needed.
He is survived by his wife, Gale Mills of Sherman; sons, Daniel Eugene Mills and wife Sheryl of Savoy, Marty Mills of Sherman and Daren Glenn Mills and wife Lori of Bells; grandchildren, Daniel Calvin, Eric, Emily, Seth, Alexus, Ava and Addison; great-grandchild Daniel Alexander; sisters, Cloveta Royall of Novata, Calif. and Rosemary Ball of Firebaugh, Calif.; brother, Bobby Mills of San Pablo, Calif. Dan is also survived by his mother-in-law, Lorene Blair of Sherman; brother-in-law, David Blair of Sherman; brother-in-law, Carl Blair of Cottonwood, Calif. and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, brother John Mills, father-in-law, Mack Blair and brother-in-law Jimmy Blair.