Morris H. Mills

Morris H. Mills, 97, of Crawfordsville, died at home on October 14th, 2024. He was born in West Newton on September 25th, 1927, to the late Howard and Bernice (Hadley) Mills. 

Morris graduated from Decatur Central High School and was accepted to Earlham College. However, after only completing one semester, he was drafted into the United States Army. Upon completion of his service, Morris returned to Earlham and graduated in 1952. He then went on to receive his MBA from Harvard Business School. 

Morris had a varied career. He worked at Maplehurst Farms, Maplehurst Deli-Bake, Mills Bros. Farms, and 32 years in the State Legislature. He spent two terms in the Indiana House of Representatives and 28 years in the Indiana Senate. Finance, education, agriculture, and business issues were areas of great interest for Morris. He was one of the first authors in the Legislature of the School Equalization formula, the LLC, and co-sponsor of UNIGOV. The main hallway that connects the remodeled I.U. School of Medicine was named Morris H. Mills Atrium for his hard work and support. He also received the President's Medal of Excellence from Indiana University and has been the recipient of three Sagamores of the Wabash. In 2015, Morris received the Charles W. Foreman award in Nashville, Tennessee in recognition of his exceptional commitment and leadership in support of the colleges and students of Independent Colleges of Indiana. 

Morris was a birthright member of the Valley Mills Friends Meeting and was active as long as he was able. He served in many leadership capacities at his church, as well as the larger Quaker organizations. Morris served on the Earlham College Foundation and Board of Trustees, Conner Prairie Board and Foundation, Independent College Board, Marion County Farm Bureau Board, Purdue Agriculture Advisory Board, National Advisory on Continuing Education, Indianapolis Economic Development, IN Corporation for Science & Technology, IN Bond Bank, RIPEA, The Nature Conservancy, Crawfordsville Chamber of Commerce, Crawfordsville Economic Development Board, and Montgomery County Free Clinic Board. He was also a longtime member of the Decatur Central Lions Club and the Ladoga Lions Club. 

Morris loved his family, lived his faith, and proudly served his community, state, and country. 

Morris is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Ann (Sellars) Mills; sons, Douglas (Nancy), Frederic (Virginia), Gordon (Audra); brothers, Howard Jr. (Alice), Amos (Gloria); sister, Helen Sanders; sister-in-law, Sylvia Mills; grandchildren, Suzanne Mills, Jamie Peters (Casey), Victoria Cline (Kyle), Madison Shaver (Sam), Christopher Mills (Paige), Derek Mills, Jared Mills; and 7 great-grandchildren. 

In addition to his parents, Morris is preceded in death by his brother, Murray Mills, and brother-in-law, Frank Sanders. 

Family and friends are invited to visit on Friday, October 18th, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the chapel at Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory. Immediately following the visitation, a graveside service will take place at West Newton Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be made in Morris’s honor to Earlham College Alumni Office, 801 W National Road, Richmond, Indiana 47374, Valley Mills Friends Meeting, 6739 W Thompson Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, or Historic Ladoga, 100 N Harrison Street, Ladoga, Indiana 47954.