Ferne Mills Obituary (1927

Ferne Mills, age 93 of Salem, passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at her home in Salem surrounded by her family. Ferne was born on June 19, 1927 in Yale, Oklahoma the daughter of Orley Joshua and Sibyl Rebecca (Luke) Alberson. She married Melvin Eugene "Gene" Mills on May 7, 1944 in Tonopah, Nevada and he preceded her in death. She is survived by her sons, Gene Mills Jr. and wife Rita of Oklahoma and Jack Mills and wife Kelley of Salem; daughters, Joyce Vieira and husband Greg of Salem, Becky Rankin of Colorado, and Jana Shanafelt and husband Terry of Salem; 15 grandchildren, Julie Fitzwater (Eric), Cally Cummins, Missy Schuette (Jason), Mandy Lutz, Greg Vieira Jr. (Andrea Mallett), Gene Mills III, Shane Mills, Clint Mills (Naomi), Doug Rankin (Melanie), Angie Thornberry (Gary), Bill Rankin (Valerie), Zach Rankin (Paige), Scott Shanafelt, Steve Shanafelt (Jessi) and Katie King (Nate); 37 great grandchildren and 10 great- great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, William Coates; son-in-law, Dallas Rankin; and grandson, T.J. Rankin Ferne was a member of Youngs Chapel Christian Church. She was the pianist for the Gospelaires Quartet. She was a homemaker for many years while raising her family. She later worked for Rexroat & Dorn Ford and then went on to work at Thrifty/Super Sales. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 25, 2020 at 10:00 am at Youngs Chapel Christian Church, at the corner of Red Stripe and Selmaville Road in Salem, with Rusty Courson officiating. Interment will follow in Paradise Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the church. Memorials can be made to the Youngs Chapel Christian Church and can be received at Crouse Funeral Home who is assisting the family with arrangements.