Hazel Virginia Mills

Hazel Virginia Mills finished her earthly life's journey and joyfully went to God, her Lord and Savior, and to join her beloved Sam at 9:24 a.m. Sunday, May 13, 2018, at Sunset Home.

Hazel was born Aug. 29, 1926, in LaGrange, Mo., a daughter of Joseph Wade and Anna Gertrude Kixmiller Breding. She married Samuel Edward Mills on April 30, 1954, in South Seventh Street Baptist Church in Springfield. He preceded her in death on Dec. 22, 1999.

Hazel attended the Midway Rural School, a one-room schoolhouse, in LaGrange. In 1944, she graduated from LaGrange Pleasant Grove High School, and in 1947 she graduated as a registered nurse from Blessing Hospital School of Nursing. Hazel was a nurse at the Quincy Clinic for Dr. James Henderson, Dr. Richard Meyer and then for Dr. Robert C. Murphy until her retirement in 1989. She worked part time at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

She was a member of Union United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and Quincy Church Women United. She was a member of Sunset Home Auxiliary, Salvation Army Auxiliary and Blessing Hospital Alumni. Hazel was a volunteer at Blessing Hospital, RSVP, Sunset Home, Salvation Army, and for over 14 years at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center.

Hazel was a busy volunteer, and because of her dedication and love of people she was honored with numerous awards, including: Volunteer of the Year at Sunset Home (2002), WGEM and Quincy Herald-Whig Jefferson Award for Public Service (2005), Illinois Governors Award for Unique Achievement (2008), induction into the Illinois Senior Hall of Fame (2008), Destroying the Myths of Aging (2009), Quincy Exchange Club Golden Deeds Award (2012), Blessing Alumna Nurse of the Year (2014) and KHQA Hometown Hero (2017).

Hazel enjoyed flowers, crocheting, reading, baking, shopping and especially socializing with friends. Hazel loved to feed birds, squirrels and raccoons at night.

Survivors include her very special family, Robert (Penny) Musolino of Quincy, Prudy (Michael) Patterson of Quincy and Janet (Duane) Brammer of Hannibal, Mo.

In addition to her husband, Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Velma Shumate; and a brother, Joseph H. Breding. She was the last of her family.

SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with Pastor Carol Stufflebeam conducting and a special tribute by the Nurse Honor Guard of Northeast Missouri. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery.

VISITATION: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

MEMORIALS: Quincy Senior Center, Alzheimer's Association of Quincy or Blessing Hospice.

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: hansenspear.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.