Lawrence Edward Mills, Sr., 87, was born on February 13, 1936 in Cherokee County, Oklahoma and passed away on March 6, 2023 in his hometown of Muskogee.

Lawrence was the oldest son of Susie and Chance Mills. He spent most of his childhood with his family on their dairy farm on the west side of Muskogee where he graduated from Muskogee High School in 1953. After graduation, he served in the US Army in Korea during the aftermath of the war. Upon return to the US, he married Patty Ruth Jackson on June 15, 1956 and entered university on the GI Bill. He eventually earned a Bachelors of Science in Engineering at Connors State College as well as graduate level coursework towards a Masters of Science at Northeastern State College. He taught math at Altamont High School in Kansas before utilizing his engineering expertise as a Computer Programmer at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, NM.

Lawrence was an active member of the community throughout his life volunteering for the local Optimist Club, Rotary Club and as a Freemason. Most recently, he could be found transporting visitors from the parking lot to the front door at Muskogee Saint Francis Hospital. When not volunteering, he was painstakingly caring for "Rocky Top", the 30 acres of land he and Pat loved and shared for many years.

A lover of gospel music, he was frequently listening to and encouraging others to join in on impromptu sing-alongs. Lawrence had a curious and astute mind throughout his life and always kept up on the latest news around the world. When he wasn't discussing the state of world events, he kept a yellow legal pad close at hand to work on complex Calculus equations in his quiet moments. He was an avid sports fan and closely followed his favorite high school, college, and pro teams. His final years were marked by the joy he found in his children and grandchildren's lives and their accomplishments and you couldn't be in a room with him long before he unashamedly boasted about each of them.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, David Mills; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in- law.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Pat Mills and their three children, Diana Green and husband, Ray of Alamogordo, NM, Larry Mills and wife, Linda of Norman, OK, and Brad Mills and wife, Laura of Miami, FL; grandchildren, Melanie Lee, Michael Green and Alyssa Haynes, Matthew Green and Sara Mick, Heather and Jeff Weathers, Kim Adams, Melissa and Asa Rayburn, Chance and Bridget Mills, Joy Mills, Abby Mills, Daniel Mills; great-grandchildren, Emily Miller, Ryan Miller, Ashley Miller, Sheylah Holder, Olivia Green, Chloe Weathers, Ava Weathers, Peyden Adams, Phoebe Rayburn, Lydia Rayburn, Zia Mills and Oliver Mills. He is also survived by his sisters, Dolores Leemhuis Davis of Palmview, TX and Kaye Lynn of Jenks, OK; and cousin Daniel Mills of Denton, TX who maintained a close, brotherly connection with Lawrence throughout their lives.

The Final Salute for Mr. Mills will commence on Friday, March 10, 2023 at Eleventh Hour at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

You may visit Lawrence, as he slumbers in peaceful repose in the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., of Muskogee on Thursday, between the hours of 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM.