Mildred "Millie" Fishback

Mildred (Millie) Fishback 88, passed away December 14, 2024, in Shell Knob, Missouri. Born on December 16, 1935, Millie was the seventh child of 12 to Henry and Hazel Sumter. From a young girl, Millie was called on to cook, clean, and care for her siblings. This set the foundation for a strong work ethic that she carried through her life, which she dedicated to caring for others.
Her passion for feeding and caring for people drew people to her and to others around her. She was central in building a sense of community everywhere she went. In Minnesota, she opened a fishing resort and cafe that blended locals and tourists. They all came together for their meals and especially her pies, but they got a treat when she had a successful catch because she invited everyone for the fish fry. In Oklahoma, her house was always the gathering spot for friends and family to talk, play cards, and eat. Her Thanksgiving dinners were so well attended that people had to eat in shifts. In Missouri, the Ozark Villa residents stopped by for her weekly sharing of breads, cobblers and cinnamon rolls, and she continued to host gatherings for the entire Ozark Villa community until the very end.
There was nothing Millie could not do when it came to working with her hands. A self-taught quilt maker, she crafted a quilt for every child that she knew upon their birth.
She had a love for nature and working the ground. After a hard day's work, you would find her continuing the work in the yard. Every year she couldn't wait to plant her garden, which sometimes meant planting it twice, because a freeze took out the first planting.
Millie loved sports. In her younger years she was a tournament bowler in between supporting her children and grandchildren in their athletic endeavors. She never wanted to miss a game. She even treated herself to the extra sports package, remarking it gave her so much joy to have so many sports viewing options every day.
In her free time, she enjoyed fishing and going to the casino. She was often lucky, but when she wasn't she still considered it a good time.
Millie was extremely passionate about politics and strived to stay informed. She welcomed viewpoints from each side, but she would never allow hate speech within her house.
People were always drawn to Millie. She made people feel welcome by feeding them and listening to them. That did not mean she would sugarcoat her advice. You always knew what she thought. Her door was always open, and people were always walking through. She will be missed by everyone she impacted but most of all by her two loving sons, Bill (Kaye) Willis, and Wayne (Shari) Willis, 4 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-children. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and her dear friend, Kathy Sanders.
She was preceded in death by her parents, eleven brothers and sisters, and two grandsons. In the end, she was at peace. She was grateful for the life she lived, and she desired to be buried with the love of her life Tom Brown in Mack's Creek, Missouri. A celebration of life will be held at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob, Missouri on January 11, 2025, at 11:00 am.