​Keith Ellis Mills

Keith Ellis Mills

9/14/2022

Keith Ellis Mills, peacefully entered the presence of Jesus, his Lord and Saviour on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 at 91 years of age.

He was married to Pearl Verna Mills (nee Wuerch) for 71 years and together they raised 3 boys: Gary & Helen Mills, Ron & Nancy Mills, and Wayne & Renee Mills. He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of 11 grandchildren: Lori & Todd Shepperd, T.J. Mills, Aaron & Anne Mills, Desiree & Zach Steeves, Joshua & Janet Mills, Matthew & Becky Mills, Katie & Bill Crawford, Sabrina & Mike Maulucci, Ryan & Faith Mills, Michelle Bural, Darryn Mills, 22 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

Keith is predeceased by his parents George and Maggie (nee Spooner), and his siblings Milo, Willis, Burns, Harry, Grant, Marie, and Ross.

He loved reading his Bible, memorizing the Word which was so precious to him. He was a Bible teacher, he loved people, and never wavered from his faith. Even after retiring from driving a city bus (where he had a captive audience), he and Pearl ministered in seniors and retirement homes, doing up to 60 services a month. The passion for sharing their faith never wavered.

Cremation has taken place and Keith will be remembered in a private family celebration of life.

Messages and condolences may be left at www.cremationalternatives.com. Please visit Keith's obituary notice on Facebook.

5 Comments

TESTIMONIALS

Hi Shawn,
Bruce is an excellent ambassador for your business. My sister and Dad were so pleased to connect with him today after their initial meeting at Carpenter Hospice. They (and I) have been so pleased and relieved at how smoothly everything was handled.
Thank you again for everything you have done for our family. "
Ann

My family and I wish to thank you again for attending to my father's cremation. You and your team were professional, courteous, dignified, and understanding - everything we needed during a very difficult time. As well, your fees were transparent and reasonable. We are grateful to you for your help in making my father's final arrangements as smooth and uncomplicated as possible." Laura

Dear Shawn,
It has been a pleasure meeting you under the circumstances. We met Bruce today as he brought my dad home and he was extremely compassionate and professional. Thank you again for looking after our amazing dad for us. It means the world to us."
Sincerely, The Family of Robert

"Thank you sincerely. I have sent your name and number to a few friends and family to put in a safe place for their loved ones in the future. We truly appreciate how efficient and professional you and your service has been. Thanks again. "

My dad wanted nothing more than what I got from you guys and I really appreciate your candor and awareness of that. Very grateful to all of your team for being strong enough to put on the hats that you do. It's an honourable task.
Thank you so much and feel free to forward this to your co-workers, as they should be encouraged and aware of the great service they provide." Steve

I have to say, you've been really wonderful to work with…I will be in a position to mention my experience with your business and will gladly recommend you.”

Thank you for taking such good care of me and my fathers ashes and thank you for your patience with me. You have been kind to me and good to me. I will remember that."

Thank you, Shawn. You have been incredible and we appreciate your professionalism is outstanding. We are so grateful to have been referred by Bob to you.”

Immediate Need
If you have an immediate need, please call us 1-833-738-6777.
We have a licensed staff member on call 24 hours a day to assist you at this difficult time.

Contact us
info@cremationalternatives.com

Cremation Alternatives offers cremation services across most of Ontario. Arrangements are available online, by telephone or in-person in the comfort of your home or at a public meeting place at your request. For further details visit our contact page.

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Lori

9/21/2022 12:42:05 pm

Its hard to believe you're gone so suddenly, but you leave behind a foundation of faith. Thank you so much for your unwavering faith in the Lord. For your outgoing personality and all of the talks we had growing up. The stories you would tell and falling asleep with your toothpicks still in your mouth. Forever getting everyone's names jumbled up and then just calling us all horsefeathers. You didn't let conventional norms dictate how you lived your life. You will be much missed and much loved by all of us horsefeathers!! We love you and will miss you.

Joshua

9/21/2022 01:20:51 pm

Gramps,
Thank you for always being you… there was and there will never be another Gramps like you!! I can still remember the way it sounded when you prayed and called out to God… From a young age I knew that you had a close-connection to him. When you would take us grandkids with you to the nursing homes, you always gave us an opportunity to minister… whether it was singing a song, helping to pass out bibles, or just simply going door-to-door greeting people with our friendly smiles, you always made us feel like we were an important part of your ministry. Yes, it’s true that you could be long-winded and sometimes your stories dragged on-and-on, but that was just YOU and we all loved you so much. The way you would lay on your back in the living room and roll around after you had a good meal… lol… and all my childhood memories of being introduced to the world of late-night television on your watch! The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, Love Connection… lol! Such fun and funny memories! The card games with your boys… and the way they would always call you out on “the rules” I remember one time Grandma fixed you a plate of tacos, and it took you the longest time to figure out what you should do with them! Lol! You loved your meat and potatoes!! I only regret not asking you the secret to how you kept your clothes so pristine! One of the last times we saw you, you were wearing your Windsor Transit bus uniform from the 1980’s and it still looked brand new! You really were one-of-a-kind… your heart towards Jesus was so soft and you loved people and loved the gospel, and it gave you so much joy to share it with those you met! Thank you Gramps for your godly example! Thank you for the laughs! Thank you for all the memories (but none at Colasanti’s or Jack Miner’s cause you didn’t like to do tourist stuff… hahahaha!!!) — love and miss you… but I have a promise that I’ll meet you again on the other side! Until then… I’ll carry your legacy well…

Matt

9/23/2022 05:36:46 am

Oh Gramps, where to begin? I have so many fun memories that include you.

I remember as a young boy how much I looked forward to a week at your house every summer. It truly was one of the highlights of my childhood; playing with our cousins, cards with the Uncles, spoiled by our Aunts, eating delicious food (including perogies!) prepared by Gram, and usually finding you either out back mowing your million acres of grass - or in the car garage working on your latest project.

I always watched you with curiousity; I loved that you would build and fix things with your hands - you were never afraid to get dirty or try to figure things out…even if it meant that those same things had to later be fixed by the “real experts” (Uncle Gary, Uncle Wayne, or my Dad), lol.

You were the hardest worker…and I know without a doubt that’s a trait you passed on to us. I sometimes would joke with Becky that you were like a tiny Ox…not that tall, but CRAZY STRONG!

And I loved that you would always ‘come along’ with some of our adventures - even if you didn’t want to be right in the action (eg feeding the goats at Colasanti’s), you would be happy to walk alongside us, or find a nearby park bench (eg Point Pelee), because you had a heart for your family and loved all of us deeply.

Thank you for the Godly example you set, and the way you poured yourself out in acts of service to others.

I am so grateful for the times we shared, the beautiful memories I hang on to, and the way I can do vividly recall your belly laugh. You cracked yourself up, and you cracked us up too!

So Gramps, pick the meat outta that, while I crack you another…

With love - Matt

T. J.

9/24/2022 04:22:55 pm

Tim-A-Roosky -- TJ
To our Gramps

If Living = Learning, and Loving = Laughing, Then we all have incredible stories about Grandpa. , so with all Love, compassion and humility in my heart, this is my side of the story.
I have learned over years I share some uncanny, hard to dispute characteristics with Gramps. First off, I can relate to his stature, what he lacked in height, he made up for in brute strength, determination, and a whole bunch of stubbornness. You couldn’t tell him no or stop him from accomplishing, whatever his task of the day happened to be.
Gramps and I, share another unique characteristic trait. That man could eat. For the size we are, we could out eat men twice our size. I use to wonder how Gramps could eat as much food as he did, he would tell me “ I put it in my hollow leg” followed by his patent laugh. Now I understand what he was talking about. When people ask me how I eat so much food, I respond with the latter.
He taught everyone with an exceptionally amazing work ethic. He worked 17 years at Kelsey Hayes, 2 at Sun Tool and 17 years with Transit Windsor and was proud to display all his perfect attendance plaques on the wall. Year after year.
I remember 1 valuable lesson, about the importance of winning. Even if your playing a friendly game of croquet against your wife and grandchildren. Let me explain. I think Matt and I were around 9-10 yrs old and we were playing croquet. Gram set the scoring post around 8ft apart. Not that tough of a shot for an adult, but gramps kept score anyway, beat us badly, then let you know that he won again, and celebrated every win with his patent laugh. Then he would tell you the score again, followed by, “well I won that one, shall we play another”? I have to admit though, I did think he was the best croquet player this side of the Dairy Freeze. I think he taught us it’s the small victories in life that matter most.
My favorite characteristic trait about Gramps was his sense of humor. He was always cracking jokes, coming up with great 1 liners, and laughing all the time. His sense of humor could literally make u cry, or make you cry laughing. Here’s a few examples. For a small stature of a man, he had the biggest and loudest farts I have ever heard. Absolutely chart topping. Gramps was proud of his farting abilities. His farts would echo down the hall and throughout the house. Then he would look at you and ask, “did ya hear that one”? Followed by his patent laugh. When he farted and it stunk to the high heavens, he look at ya, giggle, then say “pick the meat outta that one while I crack you another”
Gramps had 1 word that he used often, and most people didn’t know what he was talking about. I myself at one point was confused about what his favorite word meant. Let me finally explain to everyone what HORSEFEATHERS are. When you make a mistake, you say Horsefeathers. When u smash your finger with a hammer, you say horsefeathers. When you feel like cussing, instead you say horsefeathers. Most importantly, it was a word he used often to make everyone laugh.
We can all honor Gramps memory and sense of humor for the rest of our lives. Any time someone points their finger at you and says, “here, pull my finger” I will look him in the eye, think of Grandpa, and hold my breath while I’m pulling his finger.
Thanks for the great memories, Gramps.

Sabrina

9/24/2022 09:55:45 pm

Gramps — you truly were one in a million, and we all have so many funny and loving memories with you that we will cherish always. I know you loved your family and those around you dearly. I remember one time when I was visiting, you rhymed off every single grandchild and great grandchild you had at that time’s birth dates! I was absolutely amazed.
I know you had so much always going on in that head of yours - always thinking, always praying for your family, always an idea of how to make things better and you had such an incredible memory! You would tell us all in such GREAT detail the story of a friend of a friend’s uncle’s cousin who used to live in Ruthven etc etc etc. I remember one of the first times I brought Mike to come for a visit, you chatted him right to sleep while he was sitting on the chair next to you! You just kept talking and talking and I was laughing so hard that the fact he was sleeping didn’t even phase you, you just wanted to chat!!
When we were younger, your bedroom hosted all the mannequin heads and wigs, so Ryan, Michelle and so often helped ourselves when we were going to play dress up, and always noticed how spic and span your bedroom and closet were, and always wondered if that was you or gram.
I would be amazed at all the calendar dates you had written in on the calendar beside the toilet. I knew you made your appointments while sitting on the toilet because of the telephone right next, on the other side! You truly never stopped working!! You also answered the phone every single time, even if Gram got to the phone first — I think you must have been in that bathroom a lot.
One time when you were staying at my parents house in London, I received a phone call to the house phone from a store I had applied to earlier that week. YOU answered the phone and took a VERY detailed hand written message from the boss for me, and as soon as I got home you made sure I called her back. Thank you for that — I got that job. I also kept that handwritten note for a very long time, you truly cared about giving me the right message and that meant a lot.
Playing cards with you and Gram late into the night was always such a treat on my one week visits during the summer. I know I got my love for cards straight from you — also, my not always knowing all the rules but think I do attitude. Thanks for that.
Your one-liners were golden and I will never forget you. You truly were one lad of a boy. Love you lots, Gramps.
Sabrina - born the 18th of June as you would say🤍