Bettie Lou Mills

Bettie Lou Baker Mills was born in Meadow, Texas on June 21, 1936, to Earl Ernest and Lois Juanita Deckard Baker. Born in the midst of the Great Depression to pioneer families in Terry and Hockey Counties on the Southern Great Plains of Texas, she spent all but just a few years of her almost 90 years of life in Anton, Texas.

As a young child, she lived with her parents in an apartment above the general store and blacksmith shop owned by her Grandfather and Grandmother Baker in Anton, surrounded by her aunts and uncles in what she described as an enchanted childhood. When Bettie Lou reached school age, she began first grade at Anton Elementary shortly after the outbreak of World War II. She attended Anton Elementary for several years before moving with her parents and grandparents to Jack County, Texas, where she lived for a short time. She and her parents returned to Anton where she was very involved in school, community and church activities, eventually graduating as salutatorian of her class in 1954.

As a teenager, Bettie Lou took tickets and worked at the concession stand at the La Hart Movie Theater in Anton where her father served as the movie projectionist. It was on one such occasion that a young Foy Mills began flirting with the little red head behind the counter. This flirtation would lead to courtship and eventually their marriage on December 26, 1954.

As newlyweds, Bettie and Foy purchased the little house at 204 Igoe Avenue in Anton in 1955 where they lived their entire married life except for the two years Foy was on active military duty. Bettie worked as a teller at Citizen State Bank in Anton, then as a teller at a bank in Junction City, Kansas, while Foy was stationed with the First Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1959, Bettie gave birth to their first-born son, Foy Jr., at the base hospital at Fort Riley, as now Foy Sr., completed his active-duty military service. They returned to Anton in August of 1959, where they welcomed Bret, the baby boy of the family, born 15 months later at Littlefield Hospital.

As a young mother, Bettie was a stay-at-home mom and was actively involved in the Home Demonstration Club. When Bret reached school age and started first grade at Anton Elementary, she returned to work at Citizen State Bank rising to bank cashier before retiring after 33 years of service to the bank and the community. Through the years, many people told us that when they went to the bank, they always went to Bettie’s window because of her smile, her greeting and the way she treated them. She was loved by so many.

Bettie’s presence among people and treatment of others was formed by her faith. She and Foy Sr., along with their boys, were members at Lawrence Avenue Church of Christ in Anton. Bettie taught the 4th and 5th grade Sunday School class for most of her adult life. She was actively involved in multiple ministries serving so many in the community. Some of her greatest contributions were made by her quiet, gentle spirit as she served by Foy Sr.’s side as an elder’s wife during his 41 years of service as an elder at Lawrence Avenue. Bettie was a faithful follower of Jesus.

The Mills’ house was also a place frequented by Foy Jr.’s and Bret’s friends growing up in Anton and then their friends from their days as college students at Lubbock Christian University. It is also the home where they welcomed Foy Jr.’s wife, Mitzi Eleis Ayers Mills, and Bret’s wife, Cindy Lynn Rideout

Mills. From these marriages, they were blessed with four granddaughters, five great-granddaughters, and four great-grandsons with one more on the way.

One of the special places the granddaughters remember fondly is being at MeMa’s and DadDad’s house at Anton and especially those special times at the trailer house at Possum Kingdom. Places where memories were made and life lessons learned.

Bettie was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, John Thomas Baker.

Bettie is survived by her beloved husband, Foy Dan Mills Sr., her sons and daughters-in-law, Foy Dan (Mitzi Eleis) Mills, Jr. and Bret Don (Cindy Lynn) Mills. Continuing Bettie’s legacy are her grandchildren, Whitney Leigh Mills (Josh) Kasinger, Lindsey Anne Mills (Tim) Kennedy, Morgan Haliey Mills (Jonathan) Garner and Reagan Nicole Mills (John) Moore, and her great-grandchildren, Jordan Riley, Ella Paige, Joshua Braeden and Emmalee Anne Kasinger, Lucas Foy and Audrey Kate Kennedy, Brynn Mills and Jack Kellen Garner, and Hayley Jo and baby boy Moore due in September.

She is also survived by her sister, Vicki Baker Edwards and her husband, Roy Edwards, several cousins, numerous nephews and nieces, and great-nephews and great-nieces.

Bettie Lou will be missed by all.

We are thankful to all those who provided such loving and gentle care for our mother in her later years, especially their church family at Lawrence Avenue. Most recently, we want to thank Brooke and Scott from Hospice of the South Plains, and the loving and caring staff at Heartland House.

Bettie’s family will welcome family and friends at a visitation scheduled from 5:30-7:00 pm, Monday, May 25, 2026, at Resthaven Funeral Home and Memorial Park. Bettie’s celebration of life will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Lawrence Avenue Church of Christ in Anton, Texas with Scott Myers and Larry Bloskas officiating, followed by internment at Littlefield Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials honoring Bettie be sent to the Mills-Ayers Scholarship fund supporting students at Lubbock Christian University, 5601 19th St, Lubbock, Texas 79407.