Tina Mills

Tina Marie Mills, age 59, passed away peacefully while asleep at her home in the early hours of January 5, 2019. Tina was born feet-first to parents Evelyn and James Gwynn on June 24, 1959 and hit the ground running. She attended East Pride and went onto receive her high school diploma from Gordon High School where she was highly involved in clubs and activities. While in high school, Tina was part of Job’s Daughters International. As an adult, she became a part of the Order of the Eastern Star and was recognized as the Grand Adah representing the Grand Chapter for the State of Nebraska. Chadron State was her alma mater, where she received her associate’s degree in business. Three years post-grad, she began dating her husband, Bob, who charmed her so well that they married just a year later, on October 29, 1983. On the coldest day of the winter in December of 1989, Tina brought Bailie into the world, completing their tight-knit family of three. Many years later, a high school teacher explained to Bailie how amused he was that they ended up together... he recalled that the pair were polar opposites - Tina was a “polite and pretty young lady,” and Bob was a “rough and tough cowboy”- but there’s no question that they were meant for each other; they spent 35 years happily married.

Tina was a caretaker, a rock to her close family and friends, and filled each day of her life with selfless acts of love. She spent many hours on the road, whether it was pulling a trailer to shows or taking Bob to doctors appointments, and she spent as many hours running things over with the lawnmower. The running joke was, “If John Deere ever had a prototype that needed to be tested, Tina would sure find all of its kinks in a hurry.” Her animals were her pride and joy, and it was well known that anyone would be lucky to come back in the next life as one of her four-legged babies. Many lives were touched by Tina through her employment at Oglala Lakota County Schools and the Gordon Memorial Hospital. Tina is dearly remembered for loving her family and animals, and being a warm and hospitable host to all who visited her home.

Tina was preceded in death by her father, James Gwynn, and her brother, Blaine Gwynn. Left to honor Tina and remember her spirit and spunk are her mother, Evelyn Gwynn, her husband, Bob Mills, her daughter and son-in-law, Bailie “Girl” Mills-Burress and Bailey “Boy” Burress, her mother-in-law, Gloria Mills, her best friend,  Merrie “Mer” Gehrt, and many more  beloved family and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at 2 pm at the Methodist Church in Gordon, NE with Harlen Wheeler officiating. A memorial has been established in Tina’s name at the First National Bank, PO Box 290, Gordon, NE, 69343, to benefit causes that she deeply cared about.