Donald D Mills Obituary (2024)

Donald Dwane Mills was born November 27, 1948, to Robert G. and Viola R. Mills, in Gouverneur, New York. He was raised enjoying the outdoors in upstate New York, hunting, fishing, and ice skating. Don passed away peacefully on September 12, surrounded by his family and loved ones. After high school, he received technical training in telecommunications and was hired by Stromberg Carlson, headquarters in Rochester, New York. His first job assignment was in Everett, Washington, installing the mainframe equipment in a new General Telephone facility across the street from the new Boeing 747 manufacturing plant. The entire Stromberg crew took a break to go outside and see the first 747 roll out on September 30, 1968. Also, in the fall of 1968 Don met a first-year schoolteacher, Carol Quinn, who lived in the same apartment complex. They were married in 1969. With company transfers, they had the opportunity to live in Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, Virginia, Florida, and California. In 1979 Don was hired by Marq Packaging in Yakima, and the young family moved to Yakima to be closer to Carol's family. Don was an entrepreneur, always looking for and creating opportunities into which he could invest his time and energy. He founded his own telecommunications company that contracted with the local cable TV provider to install new service throughout the Yakima Valley and in the Portland area. He had a commercial rabbit raising business. He founded Sights and Sounds, selling and installing home and car stereos and 10' satellite dishes. In the early 2000s, he pivoted to renewable energy, first with bio diesel, then installing solar systems to bring the power of the sun to our Yakima Valley. Don's early interest in the outdoors continued, as he hunted and fished in the Northwest and taught his boys about these activities. However, his true calling was fishing, especially fishing for walleye at Potholes and in the Colombia River. He was a patient fisherman. He said, "there is a reason they call it fishing, and not catching." Don is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carol, two sons, Mike (Sue) of Flagstaff, AZ, and Jason (Nicole) of Yakima, and four granddaughters, Joy, Abi, Talia, and Sophia. He is also survived by his sister, Sheila, brother Dennis, and two nephews, Joe and David. A Memorial Service for Don will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 1:00pm, at Wesley United Methodist Church (14 N. 48th Avenue, Yakima). Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.