DOUG MILLS

Doug Mills, of Oxdrift, Ont., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 after living with the challenges of dementia for many years.
Florie (Kliner), his wife of 55 years, took care of him until she couldn’t anymore and the staff of Princess Court did their best to fill her shoes for the brief time he lived there.
Doug’s profession and passion was trucking; he was never happier than when behind the steering wheel exploring a rough haul road.
At 72, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a motorbike and many people remember him proudly riding his wine-coloured Honda Goldwing trike throughout his retirement years.
He was an avid reader, enjoyed camping, and loved to dance. In fact, he met Florie at a barn dance where she was playing in the band.
They both grew up in the Fort Frances, Ont. area and moved to Oxdrift after they were married. They raised their children, Kathy (Bourgon) and Barry, to have a strong sense of community and devotion to family.
Doug umped community baseball games, chaperoned on school and Boy Scout trips with Florie, and lent a hand to many projects. He taught his trucking skills to his son and helped his daughter with many building projects at her farm.
Doug was proud of his grandson, Mark Bourgon, for going off to university and missed his step-granddaughters, Caitlin and Natalie Coates-Mills, when they moved away.
Doug came from a large family who struggled to survive after the tragic death of his father, Edwin Mills, left his mother, Ethel (England), alone to raise a bunch of children in the Depression years. He remembered times when they only ate if his older brothers brought rabbits they’d shot and was so proud of his mother for everything she did to keep the family going.
He was predeceased by both parents; his brothers, Purdy, Sam, Bill, Jack, Charlie, Syd, and his twin, Don, and his sisters, Annabelle and Sally. His eldest sister, Queenie, is still living in B.C.
Doug will be missed. He made mistakes just like everybody else, but sincerely tried to be a good man.
Doug did not want a funeral.
For those who wish, in memoriam donations may be made to Princess Court, P.O. Box 725, Dryden, Ont., P8N 2Z4 or the Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com