Obituary of Mary Louise Mills

Mary Louise Mills (Tarr) passed from this world, surrounded by her loving family, both those physically present and those in spirit. She would have appreciated all that love because Mary Lou was passionate about her family, each and every one of them. Mary Lou was born in the Kaslo Victorian Hospital but spent her early years being a farm girl, up the lake in Argenta. It was during these formative years that she learned to appreciate the value of hard work, the magic of the natural world, (she loved her birds) and how to take simple ingredients and turn them into absolutely delicious meals. A talent that her family very much appreciated. Later, Mary Lou returned to Kaslo with family and it was there at the
age of 19, she met a handsome young man who had just been transferred there to work for the Forest Service. His name was Bob Mills and they fell in love. It wasn’t much later that Bob asked for her hand and they were married in Kaslo’s United Church; July 19th 1957.

A year later Mary Lou gave birth to a son Dan but only after a long and complicated delivery. Despite this, she had found her calling; family. Daughter Loretta Diane (Susie) was born two and a half years after that. In those days, having a husband who worked for the Forest Service
meant traveling wherever they stationed you. In the first four years of their marriage Mary Lou and Bob lived in Kaslo, Elko, Arrowhead,
Wardner and finally Cranbrook. It was there that they bought a small acreage and shortly thereafter, expanded the family by fostering two
boys, Les and Billy Somerset. With her family complete, Mary Lou went to work, nurturing, loving and providing as only she could do.
Some years later Bob and Mary Lou moved with the family who remained at home, to an even larger acreage south of Cranbrook. Hard
work and perseverance turned that land into a little bit of paradise. Unfortunately, Bob was only able to enjoy it for a short time as he
passed much too early at only 61 years of age. After that Mary Lou, found herself surrounded by family who now tried to care for her with
the same nurturing love she had always provided for them. In her later life, Mary Lou was stricken with several serious health
issues. She showed amazing strength and courage, battling back through each life threatening illness, one after another. Then early
this August she again found herself in a fight for life and though she fought valiantly to the end, Mary Lou passed from this realm.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Bob Mills and foster son, Bill Somerset, as well as her parents Courtland and Lena Tarr, brothers
Mel and AlanTarr.

Left to love her always: Her son Dan Mills and wife Lorrie as well as Grandchildren Sean and Meghan. Daughter Susie Rutherford and
husband William, children Mikael and Bobby. Foster son Les Somerset and wife Joanne with family Clint Somerset & Karen Schenk - Cassidy
Somerset, Chad & Robyn Hampshire : Wade & Jamie Somerset- Nolan & Katelynn Somerset: Dean & Lindsay Somerset.
Also her loving sister Loraine Loewen.

If a woman is measured by the love she generated in the world, Mary Lou Mills was a great woman indeed.