Joy Mills

Joy Mills died peacefully, with family at her side, on October 11, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. She enjoyed a full 102 years of life. For the past fifty years, she lived in Tempe, the last ten years as a resident at Inspirations Assisted Living of Tempe. 

Joy was born in Mesa, Arizona, the oldest of four children raised by Sarah Melissa (Melza) and Donald H. Biery. When Joy was a young girl, the family moved to Riverside, California, which became her hometown. She met her future husband, John E. Mills (Jack), at Riverside Polytechnic High School. They attended Riverside Junior College, and both went on to study at the University of California, Berkeley. 

While Jack served in Europe during WWII, Joy began a teaching career that became her lifelong passion. Over the years, she worked with all ages from early childhood to higher education. She educated future teachers at Arizona State University and in the Maricopa Community Colleges. At South Mountain Community College, she created an Early Childhood Education program. Joy became a leader in the cause of furthering the best in early education practices. Many of her students remember her as the beloved mentor who encouraged and guided them on their path to becoming early childhood educators. 

After retiring, "Grandma Joy" delighted classes of pre-school and Head-Start children as she read to them weekly and gave them books to treasure as their own.

Joy's life with her husband Jack, took her to many different places. Among them were Pohnpei, a small island in Micronesia; Korea, Bangladesh, Hawaii, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; St. Louis, Missouri; Reston, Virginia; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Joy and Jack later returned to the Southwest in 1974, settling in Tempe, Arizona. 

Joy was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, and her youngest son, Kurt Mills. She is survived by her three children, Pamela Mills of Waldron, WA, Jeffry Mills of Santa Rosa, California, and Debra Everett of Tempe, Arizona. She is also survived by her sister, Melza Barr, and her husband, Ted Barr, and their two sons. In addition, she will be missed by her three grandchildren, her great-grandchild, and their families. 

Those who knew Joy will long miss her vibrant energy, lively mind, and interest in others. 

The family will hold a private celebration of life in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, please consider continuing Joy's legacy of putting books into the hands of children by donating to Kids Need to Read: kidsneedtoread.org