John Thomas Mills

John Thomas Mills was born June 25, 1942 in St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana, Ark. to Joel Mills III and Bernice Crawford of Ben Lomond, Arkansas. He grew up in Ben Lomond attending the Ben Lomond School. He was a 1960 Graduate of Ashdown High School and graduate of Southern State College in Magnolia with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1966. He was retired from the Air Force Reserves. "Johnny" as he was called was an excellent baseball player and played with the Scrappers baseball team in Nashville, Arkansas, mostly playing Center Field during 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962. He was described by an announcer at one of the Nashville games as the following: "Johnny Mills wasn't fast as a deer. He was faster than an gazelle". After high school graduation, he played with Southern State Mule Riders Baseball team while attending school in Magnolia. He played one month at the Baseball Camp held in Florida. John coached Dixie Youth Baseball, American Legion and Fall Baseball. He enjoyed traveling and competing in tournaments and coaching baseball. He often would drive his blue van to pick up kids before and after games. He was an avid Rangers fan and rarely ever missed a televised game. He enjoyed raising and breeding thoroughbred horses and enjoyed the sport of horse racing. He was a member of the Little River County Genealogy Society and Little River County Historical Society. John retired as Postmaster of the Ashdown, Arkansas Post Office after serving for 30 years. He was the longest serving postmaster in Ashdown, from 1967 to 1997. John was a member of the Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joel Mills III. Survivors include his wife, Donna Mills of Ashdown, Ark.; daughter, Amanda Neill and her husband, Aaron of Texarkana, Texas; son, Dr. Craig and Natalie Mills of Texarkana, Texas and their two daughters, Julianna and Anniston Mills; son, Scott Mills of Ashdown, Ark. and son, Paul Mills and his wife, Rhonda of Las Vegas, Nev. and Paul's two children, Marissa and Michael Mills; sister, Mary F. Jackson and her husband, Jack of Texarkana, Texas; sister-in-law, Cindy Mills of Ben Lomond, Ark.; mother-in-law, Jeanna Bernard of Hot Springs, Ark.; sister-in-law, Theresa Milroy and her husband, Tery of Hot Springs, Ark. and many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Friday, June 26, 2015 at St. Edwards Catholic Church with Father Paul Worm officiating. Burial will be in Ben Lomond Cemetery, Ben Lomond, AR. Rosary will be 6 p.m., Thursday, June 25, 2015 at East Memorial Chapel-Moores Lane with visitation to follow. Services are under the direction of East Funeral Home-Moores Lane. Online tributes may be made at www.eastfuneralhomes.com.