HOT SPRINGS — Jean T. Mills crossed the “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
to be with her Lord and Heavenly loved ones on December 11, 2021. She was born to John Townsend and Evelyn Derbyshire Townsend on November 23, 1928.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; her brother, Bill Townsend; and her sisters, Beth Latch and Ginny Morgan; Ed’s parents, Floyd and Thelma Mills; Ed’s sister, Marie Curd; and brothers, Herald, Kenneth, and Bill Mills.
She is survived by two sisters, Lydia Swize (Myron) and Sue Smith; her in-laws, Fred, Faber (Shirley), Russell (Pat) and Floyma Sutterfield; and her four children, John (JoAnne), David (Hannah), Paul (Patricia), and Angela Johnson.
She has seven grandchildren, Marie Mills, Jereme (Allison), David, Jacob (Julie), Josh, Shelley Bailey (Jeff), and Autumn Johnson. She has four great-grandchildren, Violet, Ada, Cora, Rowan, and one on the way.
She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a friend to all. As a young woman she worked at JC Penney. On September 1, 1948, Ed and Jean were married, and they graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College in 1949. They both taught classes to the World War II veterans under the G.I. Bill and taught at the high school in Hartford, Arkansas. She and Ed were camp counselors at Ferncliff in Little Rock. She and Ed both taught Red Cross First Aid and CPR training. She was awarded the American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year award for 1993-1994. She was a Girl Scout leader for several years. They both were leaders in the Boy Scout and Explorer programs. They both are recipients of the Silver Beaver Award which is the highest volunteer scouter award presented by the local Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She also volunteered many years at the Jackson house. She and Ed were loving leaders and teachers of Sunday School classes by showing church members and others God and Jesus’s love, through the scriptures and their actions.
She was a beloved member in good standing of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to either Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hot Springs or to the Jackson House located at 705 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, Ark. 71901.
Visitation will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 18, 2021. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3819 Central Ave., Hot Springs 71913, Saturday, December 18, 2021. Graveside service will follow at 2 pm at Oak Grove Cemetery, 305 Bruce St, Conway, Ark. The family respectfully requests those that attend to wear a mask and social distance. Online condolences at www.caruth-hale.com.