Julie Bette Mills

Julie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, David Wendell Mills, her parents John and Phyllis Kundrick, and her two sisters, Joan Conkey and Barbara Twomey.

She is survived by her loving family: her son Jeffrey Mills (Mary), her daughter Deidra Donald (Hank), her sister Kay Walimaa (Ed), and her precious grandchildren Lucas Abel, Clayton Abel (Hannah), Katelyn Mills, John Mills, Grace Mills, Sarah Mills, and Isaiah Mills; and her cherished companion Ralph Richardson.

Julie lived a life defined by activity, joy, and providing opportunities and care for others. She moved to Midland, Michigan in the early 1960s and for more than 20 years was a devoted physical education teacher, coach, official, and athletics enthusiast, involved in nearly every aspect of sport, from playing and judging to teaching and coaching a wide variety of activities. She then went back to school and became a Respiratory Therapist, serving in hospitals and in-home care in the Mid-Michigan area for another 20 years before retiring. She happily wintered in Sun Lakes, Arizona since 2000, where she continued her active lifestyle.

Her love of life, health and physical activity was preeminent. Julie found joy in tennis, golf, hiking, biking, ballroom dancing, and performing in senior tap-dancing groups (Class Act in Midland and several with the Sun Lakes/Sun Bird Dance Center), including memorable performances at Disneyland. She avidly enjoyed the camaraderie of her Midland Bridge Club friends. Julie completed many Senior Olympics triathlons in both Michigan and Arizona along with numerous 5K/10K runs for charity and fun.

While living in Midland, Julie was instrumental in founding and establishing local gymnastics and swimming clubs and was often found teaching at the Midland Community Center or running the track. She coached girls’ gymnastics and swim teams at Jefferson Intermediate School and girls’ tennis teams at Northeast Intermediate School, helping nurture young athletes and instill confidence and discipline.

One of Julie’s greatest passions was the creation of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail in Michigan. She worked tirelessly to help turn the vision into reality, co-founding the Friends of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail and ensuring the trail remained welcoming and enjoyable for all. For many years, she could be found biking, rollerblading, or jogging the trail, frequently with a well-earned stop at the ice cream store.

She believed strongly in providing opportunities and experiences for her family, whether through sports or music, so life would always include fun, friendship, and passion. Activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, bonfires, whitewater rafting, hiking, tennis, golf, and bowling all found their way into her family’s shared experiences.

Julie deeply loved her dogs, as well as her children’s dogs, and rarely missed an opportunity to grab a leash and head out for a walk during visits.

Known for her joyful and optimistic spirit, Julie always looked for the bright side and made the best of every situation. She was a delight to be around and cared deeply for her family, the students she taught, the patients she served, and the many friends whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held at the Grill on the Green in Sun Lakes, Arizona on January 28th at 1-3pm. A Celebration of Life will take place in Midland, Michigan, this summer at a time and date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Julie’s memory to the Pere Marquette Rail Trail (peremarquetterailtrail.org). ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎