Verna Jean Mills passed away in Wewoka on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at the age of 77 years.

Verna was the daughter of Ralph Percy Smith & Bessie (McKenzie) Smith, born on September 23, 1939, in Lamar, Oklahoma, where she was brought up and lived her entire life. She attended Lamar elementary schools, and graduated Moss High School with the Class of 1958. She had every intention of attending business school, but married instead, and was blessed with three children: Marla, Lana, and Rick.

Verna loved life, throughly enjoyed being a homemaker and caring for her family, and fishing was one of her favorite things. She enjoyed cooking for people, and was always reaching out to those in need, always willing to help any time, in any way she could. The very center of her life was her family and her church, and everything revolved around them. She loved the Lord with all her heart and she loved the Lamar Pentecostal Church, where she taught Sunday School classes and was song leader for many years.

She was married to Elmer Mills in Holdenville on November 15, 1974, and family and church was their life. For 23 happy years they attended church together, sang together, and taught their daughters, Marla and Lana, to sing with them while their son Rick was their favorite listener. They always grew a big garden together, and they made the most of time together with their children and grandchildren before Elmer passed away on April 12, 1998. Verna was at the center of her family's life, she was a faithful friend to many, and she will be deeply missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph & Bessie Smith; her husband, Elmer Mills, in 1998; one daughter and granddaughter, Lana Gibson and Melissa Gibson, in 1995.

She is survived by two children: Rick Byrd (Lisa) and Marla Chesser (Tony), all of Holdenville; six grandchildren: Erin Caudell (Ronnie) of Holdenville, Charity Dobson of Hollister MO, Toni Rae Moore (Ryon) of Miami OK, Ethan Byrd of Holdenville, Phillip Gibson of Mesa AZ, and Kaylin Parks (Jarrod) of Sand Springs OK; six great grandchildren: Elijah, Gabriel, Natalie, Tony, Ariel, and Kynley; two brothers, Jerry Dean Smith of Sapulpa, and Larry Don Smith (Marie) of Lamar; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 18, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at the Lamar Pentecostal Church, and Verna will be laid to rest in the Lamar Cemetery. Rev. Tony Chesser will officiate. Pallbearers are Ronnie Caudell, Ryon Moore, Jarrod Parks, Larry Smith Jr, Guy Fechter, and Kyle Ledbetter. Honorary pallbearers are Jackie McCoy, Phillip Gibson, and Ethan Byrd.

Verna's family is sincerely grateful for the excellent care and kindness she received from the folks at Elmwood Manor Nursing Home in Wewoka, and those with Angelic Hospice based in Shawnee.