James William Mills

It is with deep sadness we share the loss of our beloved father, grandfather, great- grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and coach, James (Jim/Jimmy) W. Mills. He was born in Buffalo, New York on October 26, 1944, to Cherrie and James R. Mills and passed away in Merced, CA on April 15, 2025.

He grew up in North Tonawanda, NY and spent the summers working on his grandpa James F. Mills’ farm near Murdock, Nebraska. He earned a wrestling scholarship at Wayne State College in Wayne Nebraska where he met his wife of 58 years, Jeannie Hamley. He was a teacher and a coach in Broken Bow, Nebraska where he made a positive difference in many young men’s lives and they met lifelong friends. He spent the summers working at a ranch and decided he wanted to be a farmer, so they moved to Jeannie’s hometown of Meadow Grove, purchased two horses, two sheep, some pigs and cows and started farming with George Hamley north of Meadow Grove. Soon after he decided to get an additional job and started working for Dale Electronics in Norfolk, Nebraska. He was then recruited by Good Year manufacturing and had a very successful and long career progressing into Senior leadership roles and moving from Meadow Grove, to Menominee, MI, Calhoun, GA, Bowling Green, KY and then Merced, CA where they lived for over 35 years.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents James and Cherrie Mills, his baby daughter, Kimberly Jo, and his wife, Jeannie.

He is survived by his brother, Stuart Mills; daughter, Teresa (Teri) Cirillo; grandchildren: Justis Cirillo, Izak Cirillo and Lydia Stewart and Aaron Cirillo; daughter, Melissa Kelly-Ortega; grandchildren: Nathan Kelly and Jasmine Jimenez, Ellen Kelly and Gerardo Esteva, Sayta Ortega; and great-grandchildren, Isabel and Gabriela Esteva and Alexander James Kelly.

He lived for his family, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren lit up his life.

The service will be held on June 14, at 11:30 am at the United Methodist Church in Meadow Grove, Nebraska.

Please join us in remembering James William Mills by visiting our Memorial at www.stratfordevansfunerals.com

Through this site, we invite you to view and share cherished photos and videos, share fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Mills Family or share the obituary with others via social media and email. Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.