Elaine Mary Mills

Apr 27, 1929 -

Oct 26, 2023

Elaine (Nagelvoort) Mills, a 68-year resident of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away on Oct. 26, 2023, at the age of 94. Elaine moved to Anchorage in 1955 with her husband and baby daughter, and immediately embraced the great outdoors with a love for exploring in the woods and mountains, birding, berry picking and gardening. She was an avid baseball and Michigan football fan, quilter, pianist and knitter, who shared her talents and passions with her family and friends. Just days before passing, she was working on socks and mittens for her grandchildren. A beloved mother, friend and neighbor, she will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, generous heart and warm smile.

Elaine was born to Bernard and Caroline Nagelvoort in Highland Park, Mich., in 1929. She was raised in Owosso, Mich., where she and her brother Bud had an idyllic rural childhood. Elaine loved living next door to the library where she spent many happy hours and became a voracious reader. She was proud to be able to tell how, as a child, she met and received a signed sketch from author Theodor Geisel, who later became known as Dr. Seuss. She also enjoyed riding her horse in the countryside and camping with her family across the border in northern Ontario. Elaine attended college at the University of Michigan, where she graduated with her teaching degree and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. It was here that she met her husband, Dr. William James Mills Jr. They were married in summer 1952 and later, left Michigan to begin their new life in Alaska.

Elaine's home was a very welcoming place for all her friends and family. She was known for her homemade jams, jellies and bread, and could often be found working the crossword and cryptoquote with her morning coffee. If you came to visit her, you will remember her calling you in with a cheerful "Yoo-hoo." She would often stay outside in her garden late into our summer nights and knit or quilt by the fire, with a dog curled up at her feet, on cold winter evenings.

She loved the outdoors. From the woods to the skies, she learned all she could about the world around her. She even earned her pilots license when she was 54. She shared her passions with her family, and they treasured their time with her. Some of their favorite memories with her are of times at her cabin, hiking, picking berries, playing cards and doing puzzles. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; and son, William "Billy" Mills III. She is survived by her brother, Bernard Nagelvoort (Mary) of Virginia; children, Sarah Mills, Janet Miessner (Steve), Martha Rapuzzi (Rich), Mary Mills Day, John Mills and Matthew Mills; daughters-in-law, Carey Mills and Pauline Mills; as well as 17 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, 616 West 10th Avenue in Anchorage, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at 3:30 p.m.