MADISON — Gerald Edwin Mills Sr., 81, died peacefully on Sunday, July 3, 2016, at Southridge in Biddeford.

He was born in Wells on Feb. 1, 1935, the son of Theodore and Edith (Moulton) Mills. He grew up in Wells, where he graduated from Wells High School, Class of 1953.

Gerald was a career firefighter. He began working at the Wells Beach fire station, and eventually accepted the position of chief at York Beach Fire Department from 1967 to 1971, then returned to Wells Corner Fire Station, where he remained until his retirement in 1991.

Gerald was also a florist, and had a passion for gardening and cooking. He used the vegetables from his garden in all his recipes. He ran Moulton Farm Greenhouse in Moody until 2003, and was the night shift chef at the Old Cozy Corner Restaurant.

Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Alice L. Mills, and by a grandson, Anthony Christian Dussex.

He is survived by: his son, Gerald E. Mills Jr. of Cornville; three daughters, Melanie Louise Austin and husband Frank Edward of Skowhegan, Roxanne E. Demers of Biddeford, and Petula Ann Williams and husband Brian of Saco; three step-children, Betty Jean Locke of Sanford, James Arthur Locke Jr. of Nevada, and Linda Lee Locke of Indiana; and four grandchildren, Katherine A. Dussex, Nicole M. and Jacob T. Worden, and Julie A. Williams.

Visiting hours will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday, July 7, with a Masonic service at 6:30 p.m. at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 8, in Ocean View Cemetery, Wells, with Pastor Charity O’Martian, Congregational Church of Wells, presiding.

Memorial donations in his name are encouraged to: Wells Fire Department, 1563B Post Road, Wells, ME 04090.

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Gerald’s Book of Memories Page at bibberfuneral.com.


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