Bert Mills passed away on March 28, 2019 surrounded by his family after a stroke. Bert was born on January 26, 1935, in Oxford, Mississippi. He attended Oxford Elementary school and then University High School where he proved to be a talented tight end on the football field under the direction of, Bud Carpenter. He would often make fun of the tight ends and receivers of today with their "sticky gloves" and would compare it to how it use to be, (cloth helmets too). From there he went to North East College and continued with football until he transferred to Ole Miss University. His football ended there but he became the most loyal lifelong fan of every sport played there (but especially football). His friends out here on the west coast would gather at his house to watch them all. They even once or twice tried to get a hold of the head coach to give him some much-needed advice in the plays they should be running. He would travel to the spring games meeting up with his friends and sometimes would grill burgers and sausages in the "Grove" to give to the current students along with a bottle of cold beer. He pledged Sigma Nu. After college he was in the National Guard and later volunteered for active duty and was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas. After the army he had various jobs before deciding what he wanted to do. He was a salesman at Sears, a disc jockey in Alabama and his last job in the south was with Hunt Manufacturing where he worked for several years before being transferred to California. He continued on with Hunt for years in California before leaving to be the president of Duncan Vail. After Duncan Vail he started his own company, Certified Art Materials in Orange, California. When he thought it was time to retire, he did so with a slightly heavy heart and sold the company. He would still go there from time to time and help the new owners if they asked and he really enjoyed doing it. He was a devoted dad to his daughters, Beth Yellen and Mary Embree and their husbands, Jeff and Pat. He was without question the best grandfather in the world to Cody, Austin, Joey and Angie from Beth; Michael, Stephanie and Jennifer, from Mary. He was their #1 fan and could not have been prouder of any of them. He stayed close over the years with his ex-wife, Anne Mills and also to his brothers and sisters-in-law who were more like bothers and sisters to him, Jimmy and Annelle Rose, and Barbara Rose. He had the privilege to meet and enjoy for a while his grandchildren from Jennifer, Nixon and Nash and that was a blessing. He had the greatest group of friends, Cliff, David, John, Bob, and Larry to name a few. Some out on the west coast but mostly back in the south. Nobody would have been surprised had he moved back to Mississippi which he always missed, had it not been for his grandchildren. He will be missed tremendously, a true southern gentlemen. Until we meet again, you are loved. The Service will be Saturday, April 13th at 2:00pm at Pacific View Memorial in Newport Beach.
