Mildred Ella "Millie" Grinstead

Millie was born in Ironton, Ohio on November 24, 1926 to parents Herbert Stanley Davis and Sophia Marie Deckard Davis. This quiet beautiful little girl, with a mind of her own, was raised with sister Mary Myrtie, and brother Jim. She had a tough childhood surrounded by the deaths of her sister at the age of three, then the death of her father at age 6, her best childhood friend, Lila, and then grandparents as she grew up. After her father's death, her mom remarried and she became a part of a blended family adding initially two new sisters and a brother, and eventually another biological brother, Bruce.

After graduating from high school, Millie moved to Columbus, Ohio and worked for the Ohio Fuel and Gas company until she met and married Charles Grinstead on her 20th birthday. During the next 5 years they had a daughter and son, Myla and Charles, and relocated to Arizona. Ten years later son Scott was born into the family.

As her family grew, she enjoyed being a mom and feeding her kids and their friends her famous sloppy joes and spaghetti. It was a welcoming home full of love, a natural gathering place. Millie was a homemaker until she started working at J.C. Penney's after all her children were grown. She flourished in this new environment making so many new friends.

Again, in retirement, death became an unwelcomed visitor, taking home her husband, oldest son, mother-in-law and son-in-law. Still, she maintained her positive spirit and never complained.

Even though she was quiet by nature, everyone she met felt an automatic attraction to her positive demeanor. When her 4 grandkids came along, Erik, Blake, Shannon and Charles, of course, she loved on them, spoiled them and had such a strong loving bond with them all.

Millie was blessed with her grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. For her 99th Birthday, Erik and Blake came to Phoenix and she was so happy to meet or revisit with 5 of her out of state great grandkids Heather, Erik II, Shelby, Kayley and Michael. It was a follow up to a visit from grandson Charles and Luz and her other greats Ava, Charlie and Ember who came to visit after Samantha's 7th birthday party in October.

Even though her last five years were spent mostly bed bound, she remained positive, pain-free and happy and always welcomed visits from old friends and family. God's perfect plan took this wonderful lady home on a day that love is celebrated "Valentine's Day". What a fitting ending to her amazing life.

She is truly Fine, Fine, Fine now and reconnecting with so many who preceded her in death. Her family was blessed beyond measure to have experienced her special love for so many years.