Mary Devlin Mills

Born to Irish immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts Jan. 18, 1927, Mary was the oldest of seven children born to Daniel F. and Roseann McGonigle Devlin.

Mary was raised in Massachusetts, the family living in an apartment in Boston during the winters, moving to their homestead in Sudbury during the summers, while her father, a bricklayer, built their family home.

Attending Brookline High School, Mary heard about a star athlete named Jim Mills, but didn't meet him until he had returned from serving in the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

After being introduced by a mutual friend at a bowling alley in 1946, the couple married in 1948, starting their family right away while living in Concord, New Hampshire where Jim began a career as a lithographer.

The family moved to San Antonio, Texas in July of 1963, making the trip with their four children in un-air-conditioned station wagon.

A people-person with a wonderful personality, Mary became the manager of a San Antonio restaurant in the late 1960s, raising her family while working full time.

Holidays in the Mills household included an open house on Christmas Eve with friends of all ages stopping by to visit and eat Mary's renowned spaghetti sauce. Christmas Day was for the family only, a highlight of which was dinner that included turkey, roast beef and ham with all the fixings.

Moving to Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1976 after Jim was transferred to Fort Chaffee, the family began putting down roots in their new home, building friendships and exploring the area.

Working as the manager of Village Liquors in Fianna Hills, Mary continued to make new friends, and provide her expertise to those who needed a good bottle of wine, until retiring in her late 60s.

After Jim died in 1991, Mary continued to live at home with her rescue dog, Teddy, and later Sammy, until her death.

Mary is preceded in death by husband, James A. Mills Sr.; son Daniel F. Mills; sisters Jody Bonarrigo and Eileen Maley; and brothers Daniel Devlin and John F. Devlin.

She is survived by daughters Linda Burford and son-in-law Chuck, and Mary M. Heidbrink and son-in-law Henry Dedrick; son, James A. Mills Jr. and daughter-in-law Theresa; and daughter-in-law Enni Mills. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Kathleen and Jeremy Mills, Arielle, Marie Claire and John Heidbrink, and James C. Mills; nephew James Mills; a sister Sally Frazer and brother Robert Devlin and sister-in-law Karen.

Memorial Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 1:00 P.M. Friday, August 21, 2015 with an interment of ashes at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith.