Elizabeth Mills

Elizabeth Lavina Hamm was born March 15, 1916, to John J. and Helen (Kliewer) Hamm at Meade, Kansas. During her childhood, she lived in the Buhler area on a farm, later moving to western Kansas and California. She lived in the Canton area for many years and has been a McPherson resident since 1967. Elizabeth was formerly a Nurse's Aid, working in the Geriatrics ward at Memorial Hospital. She also was a sales clerk at Brunk Jewelers and at Jarold's Shop.

On September 17, 1932, she married Dan J. Thomas at Cimarron, Kansas. To this union were born five children; Robert, Kenneth, Larry, Donald, and Joan. Dan preceded her in death on December 20, 1965.

Elizabeth then married Winthrop Mills on October 3, 1971, at McPherson. He preceded her in death on December 6, 1988.

Elizabeth attended Grace Bible Church, McPherson and was a member of the Happy Hour Club of Canton.

She entered peacefully into eternal rest on Friday, January 3, 2003, at Hutchinson Hospital. She was eighty-six.

Survivors include: four sons, Robert J. Thomas and wife, Heidi, of Centennial, CO, Kenneth R. Thomas and wife, Judy, of Canton, KS, Larry G. Thomas and wife, Patsy, of Memphis, TN, and Donald L. Thomas and wife, Karen, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; a daughter, Joan Fortner and husband, J.L., of McPherson; a brother, Sam R. Hamm of Newton, KS; step-daughters, Joyce Smith and husband, R. Bolton, of Hilton Head, SC, and Janet St. John and husband, Alan, of Bend, OR; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, January 7, at Grace Bible Church, McPherson. Burial will be in Canton Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 PM Monday at Stockham Family Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Memorial donations may be given to Grace Bible Church, the Christian Broadcasting Network, or the Jesus Film Project. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elizabeth Mills please visit our Sympathy Store.