Derrell W Mills

Derrell Mills, 68, passed away peacefully at his home in Port Charlotte with his family at his side on March 8, 2018 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was a fourth generation Floridian born Sept 6, 1949 in Wauchula to parents Charles "Red" and Aletha Anderson Mills. A 1967 graduate of Hardee High School, he joined the Army Reserves in 1968 and served his country for over 18 years. Beloved husband of Carol Crawford Mills, they would have been married 50 years on March 15, 2018. Derrell and Carol moved to Charlotte County in 1969 where Derrell began working for General Development Corp. as a heavy equipment operator. in 1979 he began working as a machinist with his father and brother at their family business on Florida Street in Punta Gorda, All Engine Machine Service. He, his father and brother, Carroll, had many happy years building engines and supporting Carroll in his racing career at the Punta Gorda race track. Derrell also spent many happy hours fishing, skiing, and pulling kids at his lake house on Lake Henry in Lake Placed. He was part of a large and loving family which had a family reunion on the lakeside every Labor Day since 1976. But his main passion was his children and grandchildren. He coached his daughter's softball team and never missed his grandsons' games as long as he was physically capable. His love for them was unbounded. He will always be loved and missed, especially for his sense of humor. Derrell will be greatly missed by his wife, Carol; mother, Aletha Mills; brother Dennis (Debbie) Mills; daughters, Angela Michelle (Shawn) Jewell and Shana Lynn (Robert) Lewandowski; grandsons, Justin and Tyler Jewell; Thomas Jr. and Carter Dandino; granddaughters, Makenzie and Ariana Lewandowski, and Courtney (Luke) Tomlinson; great-granddaughter, Makayla Tomlinson; and nephews, Kevin, Clint, Kyle, and Lance Mills. He was preceded in death by his brother, Carroll, and father Charles "Red" Mills. The Memorial Service will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorFuneral.com and sign the online guest book. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services.