Susan Mae Mills

Over the next seven years, the family would welcome siblings Jennie, Nancy, and James. Sue attended Arleta Elementary and Franklin High School, being active in student government, choral music (including singing with the FHS “Decibelles” girls’ ensemble), and as a member of Franklin’s Rose Festival Court.

On July 31st, 1966, Sue married the love of her life, John P. Mills, another Franklin graduate. They lived in Portland until the early 80s when Graybar promoted John and the couple moved to Chesterfield, Missouri. When John retired in 2000, they returned to the Pacific Northwest, making their home in Vancouver, Washington together until John’s death in 2007.

Sue was an active member of the Fort Vancouver Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having identified her maternal ancestor William Cloud as a patriot in the war for independence, then tracing paternal family history to her 3rd great-grandfather Amos Gordon who also fought (and in turn, to his great-grandfather Alexander Gordon, who arrived as an indentured servant, having been sent to the colonies after capture by Cromwell’s army!) Sue’s great-grandfather Anthony Cloud served in the Grand Army of the Republic (Union Army) during the Civil War. Sue herself served the United States of America for many years, working in the Forest Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration. While these employers never called her into battles so far as her family knows, we’re thankful for the important work she did on behalf of the nation in her kind, intelligent, and friendly way. After retiring from a long career with the U.S. government, she missed the patriotic and service-minded attitude of that environment and so she, “enjoyed being around the patriotic and very nice women of the DAR.” Sue helped many people trace their ancestry, served the DAR in several roles, and was presented with multiple awards from the society.

As she began her tenure as the recording secretary for the Fort Vancouver Chapter of the DAR in June of 2020, Sue introduced herself by sharing some memories and interests with the Board. We hope that relating her thoughts here will bring fond moments to your mind and joy to your heart, for Sue herself has always been a joy to those privileged to know her.

Sue wrote about her large McQuaw family, long in the railroad and logging fields of the American West and of growing up in Portland near both sets of her grandparents, often going to see her Grandma Cloud for lunch breaks from grammar school at Arleta.

As an adult, Sue enjoyed reading science fiction and listening to old country western music.

Sue also shared that she used to sing in Gaelic; many in her family fondly recall when the sisters (Barbara, Sue, Jennie, and Nancy) would sing together, sometimes even getting the fellows to join in!

We will miss your voice in this world, Sue, but we’ll listen for it in our hearts and in the heavens.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, husband, older sister Barbara Helmer, sister-in-law Barbara McQuaw, brother-in-law Charles “Corky” Glidden, and nephew Charles “Charlie” Glidden. She is survived by siblings: Maynard (Marva), Jim, Jennie Glidden, and Nancy (Keith) Darlow and by nieces and nephews Elizabeth (Tony) Waite, Douglas (Danielle) Helmer, Chris (Katrina) McQuaw, Cathy (Jason) Shaddix, Carrie (James Watney) McQuaw, Chris Glidden, Robert (Monica) Glidden, Margaret (Luke) Walter, Gwen Darlow, Nora (Payton) Brown, Jon McQuaw. Also many grand and great grand nieces and nephews, and dear friend Marilyn Lockard.

At her request, no service will be held for Sue. The family welcomes your memories via this website’s comments feature and will cherish them.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a remembrance to the general fund of the Fort Vancouver chapter of the DAR, care of Audrey Schefers, Treasurer, PO Box 2857, Battleground, WA, 98604.