Born with the name Esther Ruth, everyone just called her Nan. Nan passed on to her beloved husband Ray just 25 days away from her 100th birthday. I’m certain if asked, she would rather spend that birthday with Ray than with us here on this earth. Nan was a lady of deep faith. Numerous times she would ask God, and us, “Why am I still here?”. The only answer would be God still had work for her to do here!
Nan was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and moved to Houston after her marriage to Ray. In 1963, they moved to Shreveport to begin a new business. She lived through so much history: The Great Depression as a teenager and World War II as a young lady waiting four years for the love of her life to return home to her to marry. She worked as a telephone operator during the war, a “Cable Girl”. After her marriage her greatest aspiration was to lead her family with Christian values and that she did quite well with her husband and her sons. Nan volunteered at the VA Hospital and at the Shreveport Symphony Encore Shop for many years. She was a lifelong member of Broadmoor Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School.
We will all never forget the gleam in her eye and her quick wit. Nan carried the frugality of the Depression era throughout her life. She knew the value of things, but most of all, she knew the God given value of people. She was a “pistol” as the first cousins would say. She drove too fast and lived life to the fullest. We were all relieved when she voluntarily handed over her keys at 94!
Nan is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ray, her parents Everett and Mary Lou Hamon, and all of her brothers and sisters. She was the last of a generation in our family and we honor her. She is survived by her sons Larry and Randy Mills, daughter-in-law Lynn Mills, granddaughter Nicole Bates and husband Jason, grandson John Mills and wife Meagan, great granddaughter Riley Bates, step granddaughter Kenzie Griffin, and step grandson Ashton Taylor.
A Visitation for Nan will be held Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 PM with Deacon Steve Lehr officiating. Interment will be in Centuries Memorial Park.
A special thanks to Southern Care Hospice, specifically Tammy and Sarah, who were the Angels who helped us navigate the end of Nan’s life journey. We will always love you and be grateful to you. I don’t know how you can do what you do but I am so grateful there are people like you who know the true meaning of service to others.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The ALS Foundation at als.org.
