Mary Jane Mills

Mary Jane (Burnett) Mills of Lancaster, Ohio was a sweet soul that lived her life to the fullest, ready and willing to go on adventures and willing to serve anyone with loving kindness and generosity. Mary was not ready to leave this life as she was invested in her five grandchildren’s and five great-grandchildren’s lives by praying for them to fulfill their God-given purpose and loving on them every chance she could. At the same time, Mary loved Jesus with all her heart, soul, mind and strength and believed the promises of God for her that her eternal home was in heaven with Him. Mary was diagnosed with leukemia and courageously endured treatment and fought fiercely to stay in the life she loved. Throughout her short illness she never failed to remain grateful, respectful and kind to those who administered care and treatment. Mary lost the battle with leukemia on September 5, leaving this life at age 78, gaining her eternal heavenly home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She left this life with the hope that all her family would one day join her in heaven.

Mary grew up in Hinton, West Virginia; the fourth of six girls born to Madeline (Grimmett) and John Burnett. At the age of 14, a church bus picked Mary up to take her to a revival meeting where she got saved. At the age of 16, Mary had opportunity to move to Ohio, where she graduated from Amanda-Clearcreek High School in 1967 and eventually married Ronald L. Mills of Lancaster, Ohio on March 30, 1969. The couple were married for 57 years and had two daughters, Lora Lee and Lisa Ann, who survive her. Mary had a heart for Jesus and loved to read the Bible. She and Ron enjoyed attending church and were especially fond of listening to the Collingsworth Family singers. The couple attended Faith Memorial Church and appreciated revivals, camp meetings, and many faith leaders who helped them grow spiritually. Throughout her married life, Mary volunteered to help with Bible Schools, taught Sunday School, worked faithfully in the church nursery and raised her two daughters to know and love Jesus as she did. Mary placed a high priority on loving Jesus and loving others as was evidenced throughout her life.

One of the areas this was seen in Mary’s life was in her career as she loved taking care of babies. She spent nearly 20 years on the Maternity Unit at Fairfield Medical Center as a Nursing Assistant. While in her 50’s she trained to become a scrub technician and continued in her career at Adena Regional Medical Center, finally retiring from Mt. Carmel East Maternity Unit. However, Mary didn’t stay ‘retired’ for long and found great joy working at Hug-A-Bear Day Care at Faith Memorial Church for five years. After that she enjoyed caring for her great grandson in her home until her health prevented her from doing so.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald L. Mills just three months before her own. She is also preceded in death by her parents, John H. Burnett and Edha Madeline Grimmett; sisters, Joann (Burnett) Bennett, Sarah Elizabeth (Burnett) Simmons, and Kathy (Burnett) Painter.

Mary is survived by sisters, Brenda Sue (Burnett) Meadows of Maryville, Tennessee, Louellen (Burnett) Bragg of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Donna Kay (Buckland) Cordle of Lancaster, Ohio; daughters, Lora Lee (Heath) Jenkins of Bidwell, Ohio and Lisa Ann (Jason) Scott of Lancaster, Ohio; grandchildren Matthew (Miranda) Jenkins of Rio Grande, Ohio; Morgan (Eric) Shaner of Bidwell, Ohio; Noah (Madeline) Jenkins of Lancaster, Ohio; Owen Scott and Sarah Scott of Lancaster, Ohio. Mary is also survived by five great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and many special friends whom she loved so much.

Services for Mary will be conducted at Halteman-Fett and Dyer Funeral Home located at 436 North Broad Street, Lancaster, Ohio, 43130 on Friday, September 11. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The funeral service will be officiated by Pastor Jonathan Morgan immediately following calling hours at 1 o’clock with burial taking place at Floral Hills Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make donations to the Missions Fund at Faith Memorial Church located at 2610 West Fair Avenue, Lancaster, Ohio, 43130.